In 1988, Martin Scorsese finally got around to making a movie of Nikos Kazantzakis’ book The Last Temptation of Christ—a dream project he had been cooking up for ages. However, when it came out in theaters, it was the talk of the town.
This film is a creative take on Jesus Christ’s life, starring Willem Dafoe. It shows Jesus dealing with tough choices with different temptations like fear, doubt, sadness, hesitation, and desire.
This film sought to show the more human side of Jesus, unlike the usual, more glorified versions of the biblical figure. The film’s take on faith, doubt, and divinity caused a big controversy that people still argue about to this day.
A Scene in The Last Temptation of Christ That Caused a Huge Stir
Martin Scorsese’s vision of Jesus was a far cry from the usual holy figure we see in movies. Willem Dafoe’s performance was raw, emotional, and at times, deeply unsettling. The director wanted to change how we usually see the biblical story. He focused on the man’s mental and emotional struggle.
This struggle came from his big divine role. The film’s most talked-about moment, however, involved, a bold artistic move: a nude scene featuring Dafoe and Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene.
It comes after Jesus, on the cross, imagines a life as a regular man with Mary Magdalene, raising a family, and growing old. It then included the controversial scene between the two to show this imagined marriage.
Religious Outrage Over Nude Scene in Martin Scorsese’s Film
Showing sacred figurines in a s*xual scene stirred outrage from religious groups everywhere. Many saw it as offensive and blasphemous even though it’s all part of a rejected fantasy.
Though The Last Temptation of Christ opens with the statement, “This film is not based on the Gospels, but upon the fictional exploration of the eternal spiritual conflict.” Still, protests broke out everywhere, with people demanding the film be pulled from theaters. Some countries even imposed outright bans, while others restricted its distribution.
According to an article published by the Los Angeles Times in 1988, Mother Teresa also weighed in, asking Catholics to pray that ‘Our Blessed Mother’ would help get the film banned in their country.
Barbara Hershey, who had given the director Nikos Kazantzakis’ novel to him while they were working on Boxcar Bertha, told the Chicago Tribune in 1989 that she had “expected some controversy with Temptation.” The actress added that she was surprised by just how much controversy it ended up causing.
The Last Temptation of Christ is available to watch on Apple TV.
Frequently asked questions
Why did religious groups denounce The Last Temptation of Christ?
Religious organizations condemned Martin Scorsese’s 1988 film as offensive and blasphemous for depicting Jesus, played by Willem Dafoe, in a sexual context. The most contested moment was a nude scene with Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene. Outrage spread despite the film opening with a disclaimer stating it was a fictional exploration, not based on the Gospels, leading to global protests, theatrical withdrawals, and several bans.
What is the controversial nude scene in The Last Temptation of Christ actually about?
The scene appears within an imagined alternative life. While being crucified, Jesus envisions stepping down from the cross to live as an ordinary man, marrying Mary Magdalene, raising a family, and aging naturally. The nude sequence between Willem Dafoe and Barbara Hershey depicts this imagined marriage. The article stresses it occurs inside a fantasy sequence that the character ultimately rejects, rather than as literal biblical events.
What did Barbara Hershey and Mother Teresa reportedly say about the film?
Barbara Hershey, who first gave Scorsese the Kazantzakis novel while filming Boxcar Bertha, told the Chicago Tribune in 1989 that she had expected some controversy over the film but was surprised by its actual magnitude. According to a reported 1988 Los Angeles Times account, Mother Teresa appealed to Catholics to pray for divine intervention so the film would not be released in their country.
