An Interview with Director Lotfy Nathan about New Film THE CARPENTER'S SON

Noah Jupe as THE BOY, Isa Johnston as THE STRANGER

I enjoyed talking to Lotfy Nathan about his controversial new movie THE CARPENTER'S SON. Based loosely on the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, an apocryphal gospel not in the canonical Bible, THE CARPENTER'S SON speculates what might have taken place in between Jesus' birth, and his official ministry.

My interest in the film was sparked when I came across the trailer in October. As a Cage completionist, I'm honor bound to watch any film with Nicolas Cage, but I also feel a special kind of way about the combination of Noah Jupe and FKA Twigs reuniting again for another film after their bond was sealed in HONEY BOY.

Before the film has even come out, 223 beings have miraculously left reviews, most of them composed, to my shame, of fellow Christians who assume the worst whenever a movie about Jesus is made that's not by Angel Studios. They feel it's their duty to unmask this film as blasphemy, similar to the public outcry when THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST came out, I'm afraid this sort of behavior only makes us look bad. If nothing else, it gives the film extra publicity. Where does this sense of outrage come from? A film director chooses to bring stories to life they find compelling -- not out of hate. As a Christian, I hope to approach any story of Jesus with curiosity, open to sharing how this story may or may not align with my ideas of who Jesus is. As a professional critic, I felt it was fair for the director to talk about his reasons for making the film and to have an opportunity to speak about the choices he made. I have seen the film and have also written a review. 

Nicolas Cage as THE CARPENTER

 
To learn more about the film or follow updates, look up Lotfy on Instagram @lotfy_ or @magnoliapics. Or to find a theater where you can watch the movie, visit TheCarpentersSonMovie.com.

For more material, check out this interview by my colleague, Kenneth Morefield, who interviews Dr. Jennifer Bashaw, who is a New Testament scholar about her take on the movie: Kenneth Morefield interviews Jennifer Bashaw