The Carpenter's Son
Faithspotting hosts Kenny Dickson and Mike Hatch review and spot faith elements in the film The Carpenter's Son by director Lotfy Nathan. Included in the episode is Mike and Kenny's interview with Lotfy Nathan.
The Carpenter's Son is based on the apocryphal text, The Infancy Gospel of Thomas. The text is a collection of non-canonical stories of Jesus during the years He and Mary and Joseph were in exile in Egypt. The stories depict the struggle of the Holy Family as Jesus becomes aware of his differences and as he grows into his divinity. Collected in the 2nd or 3rd centuries, the stories are not considered part of the Biblical canon but reflect tradition and perhaps curisosity of followers about the childhood of Jesus.
The film has been called a "Jesus horror film" by many, and while aknowledging it's darkness, Nathan considers it more of a spiritual and perhaps theological thriller. The film stars Nicolas Cage as the Carpenter, (Joseph) Noah Jupe as the boy (Jesus), FKA Twigs as the Mother (Mary) and Isla Johnston as the stranger (Satan) and Souheila Yacoub as Lilith.
Faith Spotted:
Discussion about the Infancy Gospel of Thomas within the Christian tradition.
How imagining the full meaning of Jesus's full humanity and divinity, and the struggles beyond his ministry and crucifixion can strengthen one's relationship with Christ and one's faith.
Imagining what is was like to be Jesus's parents, especially for Joseph to be his earthly, stepfather.
Through the interview there is an opportunity to hear about director Lotfy Nathan and his Biblical and theological awareness growing up in the Coptic Orthodox tradition, and how he seeks to use those lessons in sharing this story.
The film speaks to people of fith who have doubts ander when God seems to be silent and absent in the midst of struggles in life.
Lotfy Nathan
Writer / Director
British-American-Egyptian writer-director. Lotfy's first film, the documentary "12 O'Clock Boys", earned him the HBO Emerging Artist Award, and was selected in over 50 international festivals, including SXSW, Sundance LA, Lincoln Center, Viennale, Hot Docs, London and Copenhagen. "12 O'Clock Boys" was subsequently distributed and then purchased by Showtime and Amazon, and optioned by Will Smith's company, Overbrook Entertainment to adapt it into a drama. naLotfy's narrative feature film debut, "Harka", for which he participated in the Sundance Film Institute's Writing Workshop, had its world premiered in official Un Certain Regard portion of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival where it won the best performance award for his lead actor Adam Bessa.
