“I expected some controversy”: Why a Willem Dafoe Nude Scene in a $33M Martin Scorsese Movie Made Religious Groups Denounce the Film
- Martin Scorsese's film 'The Last Temptation of Christ' stirred huge controversy in 1988.
- A nude scene between William Dafoe and Barbara Hershey drew major criticism.
- Religious groups found the film offensive and called for its ban in some major places.
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.
