Garth Davis's 'Mary Magdalene' Biopic Stars Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix

Director Garth Davis's second feature film, 'Mary Magdalene,' centers on the enigmatic biblical figure, offering an intimate and spiritual portrait of the woman who accompanied the Apostles and Jesus of Nazareth. The film, released in Italian cinemas on March 15 by Universal Pictures, stars Rooney Mara as Mary Magdalene and Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus. Mara's character is portrayed as a strong-willed young woman seeking freedom from familial and societal constraints in a patriarchal society. The narrative follows her physical journey through tormented lands to Jerusalem and her inner journey of faith and self-discovery. Filmed in Basilicata and Naples, key scenes were shot at Castel Sant'Elmo, Galleria Borbonica, and Piazza del Plebiscito, where the colonnade of the Basilica Reale Pontificia di San Francesco di Paola was transformed into the Temple of Jerusalem, requiring 400 extras. Mara noted the feminist message of Mary's story and her character's courage in leaving her family to follow Jesus. The film challenges the traditional identification of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, a conflation arising from the Gospel of Luke. In 2016, Pope Francis recognized Mary Magdalene as the 'apostle of the apostles,' lending historical weight to the film's portrayal. The role has previously been played by Monica Bellucci, Barbara Hershey, and Anne Bancroft.