Name: The Holy City
Genre: Drama
Released: 1986-03-28
Duration: 1 h 15 min
Rating: 7.2
Cast: David Hayman, Fulton Mackay, James Ellis

A stunning though perhaps controversial re-telling of the Christ/holy week story

It was a long time ago (1986, evidently) but I remember seeing this and being totally enthralled. Hayman as Christ in contemporary Glasgow, is brilliant, Fulton, as a bar-room philosopher, a gem, and the atmospheric filming a triumph. The contemporary setting and mix of politics and religion may be perceived by some as irreverent or even blasphemous and offence may be given by the portrayal of the occupying Roman forces of the New Testament being portrayed by 1980s English establishment, grey suited, faceless (and ruthless) figures. While Thatcherism found little support in Scotland at the time, if the film-makers were seeking commercial success, it was perhaps brave but foolhardy to portray Christ and his followers as Glaswegian socialists living in what was quietly becoming a police state. That said, I'd love to give this a second look.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

A retelling of the Easter story set in contemporary Glasgow.

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The Holy City

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