The filming of a chronicle of Jesus’ death in Israel deeply affects three people–an egotistical director who cast himself as Christ, the actress playing Mary Magdalene who cannot bring herself to leave Bethlehem and a TV journalist whose spiritual doubts start to consume him.

In the aftermath of “The Da Vinci Code” and The Passion of the Christ, the always provocative American auteur Abel Ferrara made Mary: a gripping high-wire, high-concept metafilm with Juliette Binoche playing an actress, playing Mary Magdalene. An impressive, sincere look at faith and artistry.