By Bola Atta
Growing up, every Easter we spent in England was different from those spent in Nigeria. Stores would be closed and you didn’t really go out visiting like we do in Nigeria.
The serene ambiance of the holiday of the passion of the Christ was followed by a ritual which included eating frejon and fried fish stew on good Friday and spending the rest of the day and most of the weekend, watching Easter movies in between naps and devouring Easter eggs.
Some of my favourite Easter movies that I have watched countless of times include:
1.”Jesus Christ Superstar” (1973)
This movie will resonate strongly with anybody born in the 60s and early 70s. it was definitely the movie of our era. Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, this Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice production, follows the final weeks of Jesus’ life. Ted Neeley stars as Jesus, Carl Anderson as Judas, and Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene. It reminds me of the song : “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.”
2.”Jesus of Nazareth” (1977)
I watched this series several times. A true classic that made me cry each time I watched it.
Italian director Franco Zeffirelli’s television mini-series produced in Britain. Robert Powell portrays Jesus alongside an all-star cast that includes Christopher Plummer, Anne Bancroft, Laurence Olivier, Claudia Cardinale, Ian McShane, Olivia Hussey, James Mason, Ian Holm and Anthony Quinn.
3. “Ben-Hur” (1959)
The ever charming and charismatic Charlton Heston plays Judah(not Judas) in this classic Easter movie. I haven’t watched this one in decades. It was one of my mum’s favourites. I remember wanting Jesus sandals which are now famously known as the trendy Birkenstocks. You need to invest in a pair if you don’t already have one.
The movie starts with the birth of Jesus and ends with Ben Hur witnessing the Crucifixion. The film went on to win eleven Academy Awards including Best Picture.
4. The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988)
Directed by Martin Scorsese, it’s one of the more controversial tales about the life of Jesus and not one of my personal favourites. Star studded with Willem Dafoe as Jesus, Harvey Keitel as Judas Iscariot, Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene, David Bowie as Pontius Pilate, and Harry Dean Stanton as Paul.
5. “The Passion of the Christ” (2004)
Directed by Mel Gibson who later entered into more controversial depictions of the life of Christ. The film narrates the final 12 hours of Jesus’ life The entire dialogue is performed in the ancient languages like Hebrew and Aramaic . It grossed more than $600 million worldwide at the box office.
