Though this interpretation of Joseph's life has been substantially
embellished, the heart and soul of the story remain intact, and is
ultimately quite faithful to the Biblical account covered in Genesis
Ch. 33:18 through Ch. 46:30.
Much
of the acting is marvelous, especially Ben Kingsley as Potiphar, whose
part has thankfully been enlarged, because he is riveting in every
scene he is in.
Martin Landau is also excellent as the patriarch Jacob, who mourns the apparent loss of his favorite son, Joseph.
Australian
actor/dancer Paul Mercurio ("Strictly Ballroom") is good in the lead,
and others in the cast include Leslie Ann Warren as Potiphar's lying
wife, the always beautiful Dominique Sanda as Leah, and some fine
character actors playing Joseph's brothers, notably Michael Attwell
(Judah), and Vincenzo Nicoli (Simeon). Included in this film, and
intrinsic to Joseph's life are the stories of Tamar and Judah, and the
horrific tale his sister Dinah, both done effectively.The only parts
that are less than first-rate are the scenes in Pharoah's court; almost
campy in costuming and acting, they can provide some amusement in the
midst of all the drama. Stefano Dionisi is a most unlikely and modern
looking Pharoah, and has the ultimate babe for a wife, the
pulchritudinous Monica Bellucci. The entire film though, is always
mentally and visually entertaining, and has much spiritual content. As
with so much of the Old Testament, there are allegories that run
through its narrative that point to the New Testament, and the story of
Joseph has much of this symbolism.
Filmed in Quarzazate, Morocco,
with its exotic ancient structures and landscapes, the cinematography
by Rafaele Mertes is wonderful; this is a way above average production
for television, and a film about a man who "does nothing against his
conscience even on pain of death" is worth watching again and again.
This product was added to our catalog on Monday 29 September, 2008.
