ABOUT

MARY OF NAZARETH is an epic new motion picture on the life of Mary, mother of Christ, from her childhood through the Resurrection of Jesus.

This full-length feature film about the life of Our Lady, shot in English in High Definition, was filmed in Europe in very authentic locales with outstanding cinematography, a strong cast, and a majestic music score . Actress Alissa Jung gives a beautiful, compelling and inspired portrayal of Mary. Pope Benedict XVI had the opportunity to screen this film in the Apostolic Palace, and was touched by the portrayal of Mary so movingly revealed on film.

The film vividly captures the essence of Mary’s profound faith and trust in God amidst the great mysteries that she lived with as the Mother of the Messiah, her compassionate humanity and concern for others, and the deep love that she and Jesus shared for one another. This movie underscores her special role in God’s plan for our redemption, her unique relationship with Christ, and the tremendous suffering that she endured in union with his passion and death, as well as her serene joy at his Resurrection.

Directed by acclaimed European film director Giacomo Campiotti (BAKHITA, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, ST. GIUSEPPE MOSCATI) and written by Francesco Arlanch (RESTLESS HEART, PIUS XII, POPE JOHN PAUL II), in addition to the luminous performance by Jung, the film provides inspiring portrayals of all the main roles, including Andreas Pietschmann as Jesus, Luca Marinelli as Joseph, Paz Vega as Mary Magdalene and Antonia Liskova as Herodias. The original music score was written  by Guy Farley.

Originally a 200-minute film, it has been edited down to 153 minutes for the theatrical/DVD release.

Don’t miss your chance to bring the life of the Mother of Christ to the “Big Screen” in your own facility and have exclusive rights to sell the Mary of Nazareth DVD through October 14, 2014!

MARY OF NAZARETH is now available for parish and school screenings.

WARNING: DVDs are licensed for home use only. It is illegal to show this Mary of Nazareth movie and other DVDs in a public setting, such as a church, school or organization’s hall, without a Site License. For more information and to obtain a Site License, please see SITE LICENSE PROGRAM on this website or contact Diane at dhanson@ignatius.com, direct at 734-455-1973 or toll free at 1-866-431-1531 x 5.

alissa jung photo Alissa Jung – Jung plays Mary of Nazareth. The German-born actress made her stage debut in 1997 at age 16 years old. She  has acted in a multitude of TV movies and series in Europe. Her most recent film is the mystery thriller, “Open My Eyes”. Alissa founded a non-profit charitable foundation for Haiti, “Pens, Paper and Peace”, which raises funds in Germany and other countries to fund and build schools for the poorest children of Haiti.To support the work of “Pen, Paper, Peace” click on this link http://www.pen-paper-peace.org/
Andreas Pietschmann – Pietschmann plays Jesus. He has starred in numerous TV shows and series in Germany since he began his acting career in the mid-1990s. His other recent films include the drama, “Antiplano”, and the action thriller, “Hindenburg”.
Giacomo Campiotti – The director of Mary of Nazareth is well-known for having directed a number of Italian TV movies, including Bakhita, Doctor Zhivago and St. Giuseppe Moscati.
Paz Vega Paz Vega – Vega plays Mary Magdalene. The Spain-born actress has been acting since 1997. Her most well-known American movie is Spanglish, in which she appeared in a supporting role opposite Adam Sandler. Vega also works as a model.
Antonia Liskova Antonia Liskova – Liskova plays Queen Herodias. She is a Slovak-Italian actress and former model who, after a successful movie casting for her first role, became popular a TV series and movie actress.
Nikolai Kinski Nikolai Kinski – Kinski plays Judas. He was enrolled as a theater major in the UCLA School of Theatre in the mid-1990s, and has since starred in a number of German language films, after learning to speak German fluently in less than two years. More recently, he starred in 2005’s Æon Flux alongside Charlize Theron. Kinski holds dual citizenship in the United States and France.
Antonella Attili – Attili plays Ann. She is an Italian film actress.
Luca Marinelli Luca Marinelli – Marinelli plays Joseph.The Italian-born actor has been nominated for several film awards, including a Golden Globe award for Best Actor in the movie “Every Blessed Day”. His other recent films include “The Great Beauty” and “The Last Man on Earth.”
Mariano Rigillo – Rigillo plays Simon.  He is a native if Italy, and his acting career began in 1967. He has starred in numerous TV series and movies in Italy.
Marco Messeri – Messeri plays Zacharias. The Italian-born Messeri is a longtime actor, with most of his work appearing on italian TV series.
Roberto Citran – Citran plays Joachim. The Italian-born actor has starred in numerous Italian TV series and movies. He also has acted in American movies, including playing a priest in 2004’s Hotel Rwanda.
Andrea Giordana – Giordana plays Herod. Giordana comes from an Italian family of actors, including both parents and three siblings. His movie career dates to the late 1950s, and he also has appeared on stage and in numerous European television programs.
Johannes Bandrup Johannes Bandrup – Bandrup plays Antipas. He is a German native with major roles  in many European films including “Restless Heart:The Confessions of Augustine”, “Paul, The Apostle”, and “Saint Peter”.
JOazer- Thomas Trabacchi Thomas Trabacchi – Trabacchi plays Joazar. He has starred in a number of Italian TV movies and series since 1997. He also played the role of Leo in Barney’s Version, an American film about the picaresque and touching story of the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky.
Peter- Tony Laudadio Toni Laudadio – Laudadio plays Peter. He is an Italian film and TV actor. One of his most recent films is We Have a Pope, which centered on the relationship between the newly elected Pope and his therapist.
John- Marco Rulli Marco Rulli – Rulli plays John. His acting career began in 2008. He has appeared most often in Italia TV series.
John the Baptist- Marco Foschi Marco Foschi – Foschi plays John the Baptist. He is the son of actor and dubber Massimo Foschi, who is famous for being Darth Vader’s Italian voice. Foschi he studied at Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D’Amico, and is an actor and dubber like his father. He has been the Italian voice of Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Tom Hardy in Warrior and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

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  • Can I host the movie if I live outside North America?

    Ignatius Press owns North American rights for Mary of Nazareth. As a result, it is not possible to authorize distribution or host screenings outside of the U.S. and Canada. We are grateful for the strong international interest. Thank you and God Bless!

    Can we show this movie in our parish hall?

    Absolutely! You can show this beautiful film on the “Big Screen” in your own parish or school hall. You will be able to show this movie as many times as you wish for the full 30 days of your site license and you will be able to purchase additional Mary DVDs at a discount to have for sale at your screening events – a great time when customers will be most interested in purchasing a copy of the DVD for themselves and for gifts!

    Why do I need a Site License to show this movie in my parish?

    DVDs are licensed for home use only. The Federal Copyright Act (Title 17 of the U.S. Code) governs how copyrighted materials, such as movies, may be used. Neither the rental nor the purchase of a copy of a copyrighted work carries with it the right to publicly exhibit the work. It is illegal to show this Mary of Nazareth movie and other DVDs in a public setting, such as a church, school or organization’s hall, without a Site License. This applies even if you are not charging for admission. For more information and to obtain a Site License, please contact Diane at dhanson@ignatius.com, direct at 734-455-1973 or toll free at 1-866-431-1531 x 5.

    Are we required to sell tickets for our parish screenings?

    No. You can offer the screening(s) for free if you wish. You can also certainly sell tickets if you would like to and charge whatever you think is appropriate. Some hosts ask for a free-will offering. These are your events to organize as you wish.

    How do we get additional tickets and posters?

    There are digital versions on the www.IPMovieNights.com website that you can print yourself.

    Can I buy this movie on DVD?

    Yes. It is available at ignatius.com here. As a Movie Night host, you can purchase this film at a discount and with free shipping. Please go to www.IPMovieNights.com for more information.

    Is this movie suitable for children?

    This movie is not suitable for very young children. Although it is not rated, we would probably rate it a PG. Parental Guidance is advised. We would not advise viewing for children younger than pre-teens (11 and 12) and teens, but even so, parents should be aware that there are some scenes that might be too intense for their children, such as the murder of the innocents by King Herod as well as the crucifixion scenes.

    Can we purchase a package and have screenings at other parishes or schools in addition to our own?

    No, you cannot. Because you are purchasing a “SITE” License, you are restricted to showing your movie only at your own facility. If other parishes, schools or groups wish to show the film, they should contact Ignatius Press for information on purchasing their own Site License.

    What if we want to show this movie in a theater?

    It is still possible to show this movie in a theater. However, there is an additional cost to rent the theater format from Ignatius Press and the host is also responsible for renting a theater for their screening. For further information, contact Diane Hanson.