13 Things About the Movie "The Nativity"

I watched the movie “The Nativity” last Sunday night. I had never seen it before and was very impressed regarding the movie's realism in costume, surroundings, and story overall.

Here are 13 things I’ve discovered about the movie:

1. Screenwriter Mike Rich began writing the screenplay of the movie on December 1, 2005, exactly a year before its release.

2. By the time New Line agreed to finance the film, several other studios had similar nativity scripts under review, so the film was rushed to production for a Christmas 2006 release date, thereby eliminating competition.

3. The cast were taught how to use certain tools used 2000 years ago as well as how to build homes, how to press olives and grapes, how to make bread, how to make cheese, and how to milk goats.

4. This was the first feature film to ever premiere at the Vatican.

5. The movie shows a field of maize-corn in a Nazareth farming scene. Maize-corn is native to Mesoamerica. It was grown in the Americas until the late 15th century.

6. King Herod steps out on a rampart in Jersusalem during one scene and a large expanse of the city can be seen (as matte painting) in background. During another scene, he steps out in the same location and the city background is missing (sky background instead).

7. In the beginning when the King’s son is saying the prophecy will end that night the son is on the right. A year later in the movie when that scene was being played again he was on the King’s left.

8. In the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem the columns are Corinthian, which was first used in Ancient Greece in 429 B.C. while the second Temple of Solomon (the one in the film) was completed in 515 B.C.

9. When Baby Jesus is born, he doesn’t have an umbilical cord.

10. Many times the Roman soldiers were shown with beards or shabby facial hair, the Romans at this time considered body hair to be barbaric, and therefore it was forbidden.

11. Although Nativity Scenes often include the Three Wise Men at the birth of Christ, they in fact did not find Jesus until he was closer to two years old. We are so used to it by now most don't even realize this.

12. During the movie when a man tries to steal Mary and Joseph’s money Joseph says, “What comes with us, stays with us.”

13. At one point Mary asks Joseph, “How do we raise such a child?” Joseph replies, “ I wonder if I will even be able to teach Him anything.”

Hmmn....I think I'd have the same feelings if I was in Joseph's shoes.

You can view other 13s here.