La Genèse

I was very moved by the images in this lyric evocation of the Book of Genesis by the great Italian director Ermanno Olmi, whose TREE OF WOODEN CLOGS is one of my favorite films of all time.

Through a series of painterly images, and the calming, soothing narration of Omero Antonutti (Paul Scofield in the English version,) we are hand-led from the creation of man (in simple, elemental, but effective brush-strokes) to the fall of man, to what constitutes the longest segment of the film, Noah's construction of the ark, and the first of mankind's redemptions. Omero Antonutti plays the old man, the prophet-vessel of God himself as his boat is the vessel of a new humanity. The loading of the animals, the sense among Noah's extended family during the voyage that they are part of something greater than themselves, the dove at Ararat with the olive branch in its mouth, the vista of a subsiding ocean, all create, with the simplest of means, an impression that can be sublimely moving. And we ask ourselves why. What special gift can make a film director convert images, words, and sounds into the sacramental?

The music and musical selections by Ennio Morricone (with a great deal of Bulgarian women's chants incorporated) create a haunting impression as well. One does not have to be a great believer or even a believer at all, to be swayed by this work of wondrous poetry.

My father rented "The Bible Collection" DVDs over the Easter period, but I was interested in watching only two of these and that was only because of who directed them - this one by Italian film-maker Olmi and the already-reviewed SAMSON AND DELILAH (1996) by Nicolas Roeg.

Of course, as Roeg's film obviously elicited largely unfavorable comparisons to Cecil B. De Mille's 1949 spectacular, so too does this one to John Huston's notorious 1966 biblical flop. Still, much as that film proved a disappointment, its undeniable grandeur is vastly preferable to the ordinariness and quasi-documentary style of Olmi's effort (the star cast Huston assembled certainly didn't hurt - whereas here only Italian actor Omero Antonutti is recognizable at all, as the rest of the cast is comprised of non-professional Moroccans)!

To be fair to Olmi, he handles the events with some imagination - as they're presented in the form of campfire tales narrated by nomad Antonutti (who also takes on the role of Noah) to his people - and the images (accentuated by Ennio Morricone's wistful score) are often poetic...but the over-familiarity of it all and the distinct lack of excitement displayed throughout results in sheer dullness! Thankfully, the film is only around an hour and a half in length - whereas most of the other titles in "The Bible Collection" ran for something like twice that running-time (as does, after all, John Huston's THE BIBLE - IN THE BEGINNING itself). One other asset to the film, at least in its English-dubbed version I watched, is the melodious voice of Paul Scofield (who dubs Antonutti throughout).

A paraphrase of the earliest parts of the Bible from the Creation to the Flood. Filmed in Morocco in 1994 and narrated in a very subtle fashion by the distinguished Paul Scofield (who does not appear on camera), the movie reminded me of a relaxing water fountain in which the sound of bubbling water captivates. It's simple in tone.

I only wish I knew what the woman was singing in the background throughout many of its scenes. The film ends on a note implying God holds mankind accountable for human life.

Hard to fault a film with that message!

A rara-avis production in low-budget dealing with the first part of the book of Genesis and regarding the early stories in the Old Testament . We open with the Creation of the World, recreating the seven days in which Nature comes to life at the first light of dawn Creation . And arriving in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and continuing on to Cain and the murder of Abel , and finally Noah . It is narrated by a heavy voice-in-off , as in the Italian version by Omero Antonutti and the English language by Paul Scofield . Concerning the unforgettable adventure of Man from the Creation . At the beginning all-enveloping darkness. Suddenly, a child's voice, frightened, questioning, pierces the darkness... The first flickering rays of light begin to sculpt mysterious shapes out of the darkness . As God creating the world in seven days . While a very old man exhorting a kid to see the wonders of the earth. And it is with this child's eyes that we will witness the creation of the world . Adam appears, and is soon joined by Eve. Paradise could be theirs, but as time goes by, they grow restless, inquisitive... They approach the Tree of Knowledge and the evil serpent . It results in the sins carried out by Adam and Eva and, subsequently ,finding distress , pain, and mortality. After their fall and banishment from Eden, they are cursed by God to suffer for their disobedience, although it quickly becomes clear that they have not been abandoned by him. Their sons Cain and Abel play out a story that will continue to darken the Creation until the end of time . As Cain kills his brother Abel and God put on Cain a doomed mark . And angered by the corruption of Cain's progeny, by the lust and greed ruling the cities, God vows to wipe away his creatures and begin anew. With Noah and his family , sons : Shem , Japheth , Ham and wives . The ark is built, the animals led into their pens, and the rain begins beating on the timbers, flooding the land, bringing fear and death. When the rains have devastated the world, the waters recede, the ark touches ground, and the dove sent out by Noah returns with an olive branch - the sign of new life and of a new pact with God. ...In the Beginning . The Greatest Story of All Time...The Greatest Story of All Time...with one of the most celebrated casts of all time! The first adventure story...the first love story...the first murder story...the first suspense story...the first story of faith.

An Italian retelling of the Bible stories narrated by Paul Scofield and Omero Antonutti who also played Noah . The title is a bit of a misnomer as the film only covers the first 22 chapters of the first book of Genesis . It covers various Biblical episodes and and open with the Creation of the World and arrive at the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel and Noah and the Flood . It features overlong , slow takes , non-actors in authentic locations , sensitivity , passionate humanism and even some non-sense Iraq war scenes . Rousing and extraordinary soundtrack by Ennio Morricone , including chorus music . Gorgeous and evocative cinematography shot on usual location in Morocco . There is another better adaptation titled : The Bible in the beginning (1966) by John Huston with Michael Parks , Stephen Boyd , George C Scott , Ava Gardner , Richard Harris and Franco Nero play brothers-turned-enemies .

This strangely mounted production was produced by Rai 1 , Lux Vide , Lube, Biblical Studio Morocco and being well directed by ErmannoOlmi , though it doesn't gives the feel of a Cecil B De Mille spectacle . Olmi was a good and artistic filmmaker who made thought-provoking and sensitive films . Olmi was really influenced by the work of Roberto Rosselini. He usually includes social commentaries , overlong , slow-moving takes and using non-actors in authentic locations who frequently participate in dances . His best films were : The Tree of Wooden Clogs (1978) , The Legend of the Holy Drinker (1988) and Il mestiere delle armi (2001) . He also directed and produced a lot of documentaries. Rating 6/10 . The film will appeal to religious people .

An interesting attempt at a visual representation (set to Paul Scoffield's narration) of the book of Genesis. For the most part, the opening creation is a montage of unrelated images. Then the film moves to a somewhat abstract portrayal of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Tubal Cain, then Noah and his family. Throughout are some quotes from the Psalms, Song of Songs, Isaiah, and I what I am certain are extra-biblical references. One sequence I found very interesting was the use of modern images of war and frenetic city life intertwined with portrayals of ungodly lifestyles in Noah's day to communicate that we are on the verge of God's coming judgment, just as his culture was. Very well done, I thought.

Overall, I give this film a 5/10- I wanted to give it a lot more, but it moves along at too slow a pace, with much of the film work seeming like filler material. This film is a lot less than I expected and I'm not sure I'd have been so quick to buy it ($5 at a garage sale) if I knew what it actually was.