Cinemas have finally reopened in the city I currently call home. It’s a move I have been waiting for since they closed several months ago plunging me into a deep existential panic about the future of my local picture houses. It was important to me that the first film I saw back was an event and I could not have picked more of an event than Judas and the Black Messiah.
From start to finish Judas and the Black Messiah is more than deserving of every piece of praise it has so far received. Incredibly tense, moving and endlessly stylish it may be one of the best films I’ve watched this year. Oscar worthy performances, emotive soundtracks and immersive methods of filmmaking are all reasons that everyone who even has a vague interest in films or history should go and watch this. Daniel Kaluuya’s performance won the academy award, but I think its important to acknowledge the amazing work by Lakeith Stanfield as he navigates his way through the world of the BBP, trying to evade suspicion from his colleagues. A character who goes from someone the audience quietly roots for to someone who the audience may never forgive. What I find to be notable is Stanfield’s incredible ability to draw out sympathy from the audience as he increasingly goes against what they want him to do.
Anyone and everyone who watches this film can write about what a good film it was and for what reasons. But I wanted to focus on something that I really loved in the last act of the film. It is the reason why this film should definitely be watched by Christians, theologians and Christian theologians. It is a scene that could evoke more faith than just about any project produced by Pureflix.
Judas and the Black Messiah is a film clearly inspired. Despite the obvious parallels of both Jesus/Fred Hampton and Judas/William O’Neil, I still failed to notice them until the film had almost finished.
Let’s set the scene.
Fred Hampton is going back to jail. He was sentenced to 5 years on charges so ridiculous they border the fictional. The authorities that have arranged this have operated with a level of corruption that would make the Romans blush. O’Neil has been assigned a terrible deed, that would destroy his chances of redemption. But for now Fred’s apartment is a seemingly peaceful place to be, full of friends and allies, together for their last supper with Fred, just like the last supper of Jesus Christ.
Hampton has spent the film working hard to unite unlikely groups against a corrupt system that has treated them badly, he has dedicated his life to improving his community and helping those less fortunate and everything is coming back around as he is offered several thousand dollars in cash to escape with his wife.
As Jesus was offered the cup in Gethsemane, Hampton has a way out, he can setup a new life for himself and his family, he has the blessing of everyone around him to run and the resources to do so. The audience can only hope that he takes it.
But bound to his sense of morality he refuses this, as Jesus refused the cup, Hampton refuses escape. He donates the money to build a local medical centre to be named after a friend of his (not even naming it after himself) signing himself to his fate but in doing so continuing his mission of helping his community.
He doesn’t ask for sympathy or praise. His reward is doing the right thing. Which makes the final betrayal from O’Neil all the more gut wrenching for the audience. O’Neil behaves exactly as Judas did, he betrays the man who cared for him and takes his silver as a reward. Like Judas however it would eventually result in the suicide of O’Neil.
Judas and the Black Messiah is a film that will hit the audience on an emotional level regardless of their interest (or lack thereof) in theology because it’s a deeply moving and unsettling part of our history told in a fantastic film. But I do feel like the parallels add another layer of depth which I enjoyed a great deal in this film. I strongly recommend everyone go and watch it.
T H E N A I V E F I L M M A K E R 