The Gospel According to St. Matthew

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The Gospel According to St. Matthew

1964

2h 16m

History

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

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36 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Pier Paolo Pasolini's Biblical drama follows the life of Jesus Christ (Enrique Irazoqui) as depicted in the Gospel of Matthew from the New Testament. Much of the dialogue in the Italian film hews closely to the text, which focuses on the teachings of Jesus, including his parables, and on their revolutionary nature. As Jesus travels along the coast of the Sea of Galilee, he gradually gathers more followers, leading him into direct conflict with the authorities.

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Critics Consensus

The Gospel According to St. Matthew forgoes the pageantry of biblical epics in favor of a naturalistic retelling of the Christ story, achieving a respectful if not reverent interpretation with political verve.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Mar 1, 2013

5/5

Superb in every way, and possibly the film-maker's best.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Feb 28, 2013

5/5

A fierce magnesium flame of a movie.

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David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Mar 8, 2012

5/5

Definitely one for multiple viewings, and arguably up there with Pasolini's best.

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Aug 4, 2026

4/5

An unorthodox yet strangely reverent take on the story of Jesus. Its modern, documentary-like style is bracing, but with a simplicity that feels classic. Pasolini’s Jesus is confident, laser-focused and ready to get to work dying for his cause.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Oct 3, 2025

3.5/4

There is a purity ... that gives it a transcendental aura.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Apr 13, 2025

6/10

With a refined aesthetic, Pasolini frames an ascetic portrait of Christ's journey in a neorealist style, but unfortunately, his approach to the biblical text is didactic. [Full review in Spanish]

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 24, 2025

Based on a true story in 2 hours and 16 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Italian and American English audio options with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Teddy B

@RT90521672 Apr 30, 2025

Pasolini humbles the Passion without the grandiose frivolities, overblown budgets and misplaced cruelty of other interpretations. The simplicity of the film, very much a 'what you see is what you get' type situation, feels interesting but isolating at the same time. The documentary style and over-reliance of pure silence does make this film slightly uncomfortable to get through, though.

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Alec B

@Alec97 Apr 13, 2025

It's interesting to compare this to the biblical epics getting cranked out by Hollywood at the same time. Those movies were massive in scope, incredibly long, overwrought, and excessively sentimental while Pasolini's vision is intimate, comparatively short, and more emotionally subdued. Can you guess which was the more successful?

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Vitor O

@RT19027067 Mar 15, 2025

Arguably the best religious epic from the 60's, this picture (made by an atheist and marxist Pasolini) is beautiful, elegant, and stripped from all the nonsense and hokum characteristic from the Holywoodian versions from that era.

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Hilary L

@RT45867698 Apr 3, 2024

Terrible movie. The acting is bad, the depiction of Jesus Christ is by far the worst I've seen in my life.

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Nawt W

@RT94004908 Jan 9, 2023

How ironic that one of the most faithful depictions of Jesus' life is put on film by a gay, Marxist atheist. Showing Matthew 1–28 in the most unostentatious, raw way possible. Everything is under the rule of realism, starting with the unkempt unibrow of first-time actor Enrique Irazoqui, who plays the most intimidating Jesus yet. His deadpan expression of determination and his sudden splashes of temper really paint a vivid picture of a preacher. As is customary with neorealism, non-professional actors are used, and this Bible story is no exception. The muddy outskirts of Judea clash with anachronistic Roman armor that is clearly not from this age or maybe the Roman era at all. The movie has one Odetta song play on repeat, and since this is an Italian movie, the mandatory dub is mostly out of sync.

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Pier Paolo Pasolini

Director

Enrique Irazoqui

Christ

Margherita Caruso

Mary (younger)

Susanna Pasolini

Mary (older)

Marcello Morante

Joseph

Mario Socrate

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Synopsis

Pier Paolo Pasolini's Biblical drama follows the life of Jesus Christ (Enrique Irazoqui) as depicted in the Gospel of Matthew from the New Testament. Much of the dialogue in the Italian film hews closely to the text, which focuses on the teachings of Jesus, including his parables, and on their revolutionary nature. As Jesus travels along the coast of the Sea of Galilee, he gradually gathers more followers, leading him into direct conflict with the authorities.

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini
Producer: Alfredo Bini
Screenwriter: Pier Paolo Pasolini
Distributor: Water Bearer Films, Continental Distributing Inc.
Production Co: Arco Films
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 4, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2012
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Mono

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