Search - Book of Life on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Profanity Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 11/07/2000 Format: DVD Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 3 mins Studio: Fox Lorber Members Wishing: 4 Genres: Comedy, Satire, Fantasy Comedy

Hal Hartley directed this French-produced comedy about the Second Coming of Christ (Martin Donovan), with Thomas Jay Ryan in the role of Satan. While a gambler (David Simonds) and a waitress (Miho Nikaido) talk with Satan in a hotel bar, Jesus arrives at JFK airport with Magdalena (PJ Harvey). Jesus has been sent down to end the world by breaking the Seven Seals on a computer disk in a bowling alley locker room. Made in digital video blown up to 35mm, this film is part of the French "Collection 2000 Seen By" television series of one-hour films about the Millennium (and the only one by an American director). Shown at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Martin Donovan - Jesus Christ
PJ Harvey - Magdalena
Thomas Jay Ryan - Satan
David Simonds - Guy in Bar
Miho Nikaido - Edie

Shot on digital video for a French series celebrating the year 2000, The Book of Life doesn't have the sort of glossy production values going for it that make movie buffs exclaim "Thank God Lawrence of Arabia is finally on DVD!" But writer/director Hal Hartley's ever-growing number of fans will be happy to have this short, witty metaphysical comedy on DVD, and perhaps some newcomers will stumble onto his feature film work through this entertaining, funny, and oddly moving rumination on biblical scripture and humans' place in the new millennium. The DVD's special features include production credits, filmographies of Hartley and star Martin Donovan, and a digital newsletter. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide