Wary of making the wrong decision, their heated discussions around the film and the insight it offers into the processes of censorship – at times pragmatic and at times ideological – make this a fascinating case study for the ongoing debate about religion, orthodoxy and faith on the screen. The British Board of Film Classification struggled with the film’s religious iconography and characterisations, but their decision was also highly influenced by the vocal press and church opposition to the film and the protests being organised to oppose its release. The Last Temptation of Christ polarised viewers, churchgoers and the people charged with deciding its classification. Most of the vitriol was saved for the film’s suggestion of a physical relationship between Willem Dafoe’s self-doubting, reflective Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Scorsese and Paul Schrader’s adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis’ novel proved highly controversial due to the film’s clear departure from the gospels.
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