introduction

In Portrait of a Radical, noted theologians and authors discuss the truly radical, dynamic and passionate message of Jesus. Unlike more traditional videos about the life of Jesus, Portrait of a Radical attempts, using powerful images and music, to move the viewer out of the intellect and into a space where the dynamic nature of Jesus can be experienced.

The film is not an advertisement for Christianity, it is a responsible look at the life of Jesus told in a language that can be heard by a person of any faith and in a style that attempts to reclaim Jesus' message from the institution that has, in many ways, obscured His radical, compassionate and inclusive teachings.

unique style

Portrait of a Radical relies heavily on art to help our speakers tell the story of the movement. In addition to original footage shot in Israel, the film makes strong use of frescoes and mosaics which tend to be more approachable than the better known traditional Christian art and Icons. The continuous stream of art and nature woven throughout the story seem to come to life with the music that lurks behind it.

From the first note of the provocative soundtrack, assembled exclusively of the music of Gabrielle Roth and the Mirrors, Portrait of a Radical attempts to draw the viewer into a space where Jesus can be experienced from a different perspective. The soundtrack carries a tribal rhythm which when fused with the carefully selected imagery instills within viewers a sense that they are experiencing some of the spirit of the Movement itself.

relevant topics

The film lays out in twelve short sections. Each section begins with a music change and is launched by a short, thought-provoking quote from the Bible. A sampling of these sections includes:

• The significance of women in Jesus' ministry.

• The use of nature in Jesus' parables.

• The importance of Jesus' journey into the desert and its spiritual implications.

• The magnetism of the human person of Jesus and a look at why people followed him so desperately.

• The corruption of the social, political and religious institutions of Jesus' time and His willingness to confront them head-on.