MARY MAGDALENE (2019)

Starring Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Directed by Garth Davis

Distributed by IFC Films. 120 minutes. Rated R

Straight off of Lion– Garth Davis’ Oscar-nominated directorial debut that physically moved me to tears- comes Mary Magdalene, another emotional drama that brings the story of the apostle (or mythical apostle, depending on who you ask) Mary Magdalene to light for the first time. Aside from the film’s visual beauty, it’s important to note that Mary Magdalene is the last film score by the incredibly gifted composer, Jóhann Jóhannsson.

The film opens on a shot of a woman drowning, her wavering, sinking body looking more like an underwater ballet than a death. This imagery is strong, but should not be taken literally. It is made to resemble Mary’s (Rooney Mara) suffocation at the hands of her father, her arranged marriage, and her lack of a sense of purpose. Mary is beautiful and headstrong, two qualities that aren’t compatible with her time, and so all she can do is pray for change. When news spreads that a mysterious man named Jesus (Joaquin Phoenix) has come into town, claiming he knows the path to God’s kingdom, Mary finally sees a way out. Without hesitation, Mary follows her faith and blindly follows Jesus and his disciples, including Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor), on his journey to preach the word of God.

Mary falls under the spell of the bearded messiah after witnessing him heal the blind and bring people back from the dead, but it is their intimate, abstract discussions that bond the two. There is no romance between Jesus and Mary, it is purely platonic (off-screen, however, Phoenix and Mara found love on the set). Mary is there with Jesus until the very end as he hung lifeless on the cross. She was there when he was buried in the tomb made of rocks. And she was the first person to witness his resurrection.

Rooney Mara’s ethereal beauty and wide-eyed innocence are natural features that make her the perfect Mary. She re-teams with Garth Davis and delivers a simmering performance. From Jesus to the Joker in a matter of months, Joaquin Phoenix flexes his range as an actor as the proverbial Son of God. This film proves that he really can do it all.

Throughout the film, Davis is respectful to the religion and the beliefs of Christians, handling the crucifixion and miracles with sensitivity. He even goes so far as to dispel the popular “rumor” that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. In one of the title cards at the end of the film, a statement reads this was a “misconception” started by Pope Gregory in 591 AD.

Believer or not, there is a quiet captivation in Mary Magdalene that audiences will find themselves lost in, be it the picturesque surroundings, Mara and Phoenix’s chemistry, or the gift of hearing Jóhann Jóhannsson’s final musical score one last time.

Mary Magdalene opens this Friday at Laemmle theaters, on VOD and digital platforms April 19