Story
The movie tells the story of the events surrounding the conception and birth of Jesus as portrayed in the Bible. It opens with Herod (Ciaran Hinds), King of Judea under Roman rule. He is afraid that he will lose his kingdom because of an ancient prophecy of the coming of a Messiah. He orders the killing of all male children under two in Bethlehem.
Flashing back to the previous year, we find Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) living with her parents Anna (Hiam Abass) and Joaquim (Shaun Toub) in the poor town of Nazareth. It is a time of oppression and harsh taxation enforced by Herod. Mary is betrothed to Joseph (Oscar Isaac). An angel tells her that she has been chosen by God to bear a son who will be a saviour for his people. Struggling to come to terms with this news, Mary, now pregnant, visits her cousin Elizabeth (Shohreh Aghdashloo) who is also expecting a child. This child will grow up to be John the Baptist.
When Mary returns to Nazareth, she cannot hide her pregnancy. She has a difficult confrontation with her parents and Joseph. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and confirms Mary’s story. Joseph then vows to stand by Mary, no matter what others might say.
Meanwhile, Herod is determined to find and kill the Messiah of the prophecy. Herod decrees a census that Mary and Joseph must fulfill by making a difficult journey to Bethlehem. During this journey, we see Joseph’s selfless care and concern for Mary and a growing love and respect between the couple.
Jesus is born in a roughly made stable in Bethlehem, and local shepherds come to pay homage. Three Persian Magi also come, guided by the prophecy of the Messiah and following the path of a large star that appears when the planets converge. They find the new baby lying in a manger and bestow him with gifts. They defy Herod by returning to Persia without informing him about the child Messiah. Warned in a dream about Herod’s threat, Joseph and Mary take Jesus and flee across the desert towards the safety of Egypt.
Themes
The Christmas story; oppressive and violent regimes; seizing and killing children
Violence
There is some violence in this movie including:
- several incidents where helmeted soldiers armed with swords terrify citizens by riding trough villages and towns
- soldiers forcing their way into houses to kill babies
- the seizing of a screaming child from parents who cannot pay their taxes.
Sexual references
Mary’s pregnancy by immaculate conception might raise questions for older children.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
None
Nudity and sexual activity
None
Product placement
None
Coarse language
None
Ideas to discuss with your children
The Nativity Story is an epic telling of the Christmas story with strong visual and emotional impact. The main messages from this movie are the Christian message of the Saviour, the Son of God, born in humble surroundings, and the triumph of good over evil.
You might like to discuss with your children the notion of family loyalty and selflessness. Other issues you could talk about are how people living in poverty struggle to survive under oppressive regimes, as well as the consequences of making judgements about people without knowing the full story.