Mary, the latest biblical movie by Netflix, takes viewers back to a time before the advent of Christianity. While that sounds like a Herculean task, there is a more pressing question at hand: is Mary based on a true story?
Directed by D.J. Caruso and written by Timothy Michael Hayes, the riveting biblical epic is a retelling of the nativity story from a new angle for a unique Christmas watch. It is narrated from Mary’s point of view and follows a young woman with a miraculous conception as she flees from a merciless king who won’t stop at anything to get to the baby.
True story of the Netflix movie Mary,its plot, cast and other details
What is the plot of Netflix’s Mary?
The Netflix movie follows Mary, played by Noa Cohen, Joseph, played by Ido Tako and their newborn son, Jesus, as they flee the ruthless pursuit of King Herod, portrayed by two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins.
Here, the story is told by the titular young woman. The coming-of-age movie gets a suspenseful spin as audiences are taken on a remarkable journey leading to the birth of Jesus.
Mary, a young woman from Nazareth chosen to become the mother of mankind’s messiah, is forced into hiding after the angel Gabriel tells her how she will miraculously conceive. When King Herod orders a dangerous manhunt to kill the prophesied Son of God, she and her husband Joseph are on the run to save the newborn baby’s life. No matter what it takes.
The arduous journey of a mother to Egypt, carrying a divinely ordained child, the sacrifices she makes for her son and her strong faith are the central themes of the film.
So, is the Netflix movie Mary based on a true story?
The Netflix movie Mary is laden with biblical allusions and is based on the story of the New Testament which follows Mother Mary giving birth to Jesus, evading the soldiers with her newborn baby and her struggles under the rule of King Herod. Although certain portions have been dramatised to suit the cinematic flow, the film has, by and large, abided by the religious texts.
Netflix states that Aloe and the filmmakers consulted with a wide range of religious scholars and leaders to capture the story’s historical elements and uphold Mary of Nazareth’s true experience. The idea of telling the story from Mary’s perspective also accentuates the compelling storytelling and reveals a side of the Queen of All Saints that is seldom seen on screen. Caruso also worked closely with Bishop David G. O’Connell as a spiritual advisor to remain respectful and authentic to the source material.
The Israeli cast members shot in Morocco for a more realistic touch.
Mary: The cast and crew
Besides the lead actors, Mary also stars Stephanie Nur as Salome, Susan Brown as Anna the Prophetess, Ori Pfeffer as Joachim, Eamon Farren as Satan, Hilla Vidor as Anne, Mili Avital as Mariamne and Mila Harris as young Mary.
The Caruso directorial is produced by Mary Aloe, Hannah Leader, Gillian Hormel and Joshua Harris. Pastor Joel Osteen steps in as executive producer on the movie.
Interestingly, the casting of Israeli actress Noa Cohen and actor Ido Tako as Mary and Joseph, respectively, incurred backlash from anti-Israel critics on social media who state that Mary and Joseph are Palestinians. Caruso defended the choice and told Entertainment Weekly in October 2024, “It was important to us that Mary, along with most of our primary cast, be selected from Israel to ensure authenticity.”
While criticisms mainly attack the film on grounds of ethnicity and historical accuracy in terms of casting, Fox News cites a press release for the film where Caruso states, “It was essential to stay true to the biblical narrative as the story’s foundation,” for Mary.” “The plot remains faithful to the scriptures, with thoughtful interpretations that enhance the film’s central themes. In short, we aimed to honour the scriptures.”
When and where can you watch Maryin India?
The movie was released on Netflix on 6 December 2024. Based on the story of the Virgin Mary from the Bible, Mary comes in line with Netflix’s foray into spiritual-related content with titles such as Testament: The Story of Moses (2024), A Week Away (2021), Our Lady of San Juan, Four Centuries of Miracles (2020), The Two Popes (2019) and more.
(Hero image: Courtesy of Christopher Raphael via Netflix; Featured image: Courtesy IMDb)
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
