Family hiding in Roman Egypt. Son known as ‘the Boy’ doubts guardian ‘the Carpenter’, rebelling with mysterious powers. As he uses abilities, they face natural and divine horrors.
Chuck says:
Like so many parents, Joseph is having a problem with his teenage son. The boy is unkempt, is starting to talk back and his behavior is odd. His opinions about life and society are contrary to his own and he finds himself not simply arguing with his son, but confronting his wife as well, who defends the boy. Then there’s the matter of the girl, the one the young man is spending time with. It’s obvious she’s a bad influence. Is he really interested in or just hanging around her to get his old man’s goat? It’s gotten to the point where Joseph simply doesn’t understand his boy any longer. Who has he become and how did things turn out this way?
This is a cliched situation to be sure but it takes on new life in Lofty Nation’s “The Carpenter’s Son,” as the young man in question is Jesus, the mother, Mary and Joseph, her beleaguered husband. Based on the non-canonical Infancy Gospel of Thomas, the movie is sure to offend the devout and intrigue the curious. There’s nothing in the filmmaker’s past work that would suggest he has a specific agenda or is a provocateur. And while the movie has a horrific bent to it, this is not meant to be a sensationalist approach. Yet, while that is the case, I’m quite sure a fervor regarding it will still arise.
Joeseph (Nicolas Cage) is seen here as a troubled man, one who adheres closely to his faith, yet is prone to superstition as well. He also struggles with a healthy dose of paranoia as he knows his son (Noah Jupe) is unique, his behavior often drawing unwelcomed attention to the family, compelling them to be on the move constantly. Whether his boy comes from heaven or hell and if he is, in fact, his father, are issues that plague him. And while Mary (FKA twigs) is patient with him, there’s no question she will do anything to protect their son, even from Joseph.
As for Jesus, like every boy who goes through puberty, he’s experiencing great changes and has come to question many things. He’s aware he’s different; he knows not everyone can crush a grasshopper and then bring it back to life. Yet, it’s his interactions with a leper, who is healed by his touch, that causes him great turmoil and makes him a target for those who fear anyone who’s different. A strange girl’s (Isla Johnston) influence over him is pulling him away from his parents, portending greater rebellion on his part.
The film’s first hour is an intriguing alternate look at this period in Jesus’ life and is not unlike Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ” in its efforts to humanize the character in a harsh, realistic environment. Denied permission to shoot in Egypt due to its “blasphemous” nature, Nation utilizes barren, Greek locations to good effect, this hardscrabble world an obvious influence on the desperate nature of the characters.
Granted, “Son” does come off at times as a superhero origin story in its structure, but the passionate performances and genuine setting keep it grounded, the humanistic elements of the story taking centerstage. Faith and doubt are its thematic underpinnings, and the questions it asks regarding each are sincere and worthy.
It’s unfortunate Nation’s script falters in the third act. The confrontation between Jesus and his eternal nemesis is anticlimactic while the resolution between father and son gets lost amidst a blur of confusing action. Be that as it may, “Son” should be commended for addressing issues of faith which continue to dog so many of us, especially in these trying times. In the end, whatever Nation’s personal feelings, we are left with a message of hope, which is something.
2 1/2 Stars
