A movie about the struggles of Jesus' childhood and the issues that surfaced for his family will be available for home viewing through a movie entitled The Young Messiah. Released by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, the movie will be available for purchases on digital HD as of May 24, and on DVD and Blu-Ray as of June 14.
Radio Talk Show Host Hugh Hewitt called it "a spectacular movie for the whole family."
Young Messiah is expected to spark important, multi-generational conversations. It was inspired by scripture and rooted in history. The movie's production team indicated they tried to remain true to the character of Jesus revealed in the Bible. The story follows Jesus' journey from Egypt to Nazareth and on to Jerusalem at which His true identity and profound destiny are revealed. It particularly focuses on the year Jesus was 7 years old. His family deals with the dangers of that world: a corrupt King Herod, civil unrest and a brutal occupying Roman force.
When the mystery of Jesus' divinity begins to unfold in His early years, He turns to His parents for answers. The Young Messiah film explores the steps Mary and Joseph may have taken to protect their child, because they were afraid to reveal all they know. The movie demonstrates questions Jesus' parents had about how to determine ways to explain to the world He was their Creator.
The movie also handles how Mary and Joseph may have attempted to "teach the Teacher" and how they tried to help the Savior who came to save them, too.
After looking at more than 2,000 boys in the United Kingdom, Italy, Jordan, Israel and the United States to play the part of Jesus, the movie's producers cast Adam Greaves-Neal from London. Playing Mary is Sara Lazzaro, and playing Joseph is Vincent Walsh.
Radio personality Rush Limbaugh said Young Messiah is "unlike any Jesus movie you've ever seen. "
One of the movie's fans on its Facebook page, Dan Kats, called it the "best movie of the year." However, others who have seen the movie indicated they questioned the miracles attributed to Jesus in the movie and called it "pretend."
"While we hope that our film finds a place alongside other Jesus classics, it's more important to us that it inspires people to visit, or revisit, the Jesus story from a fresh new angle," said Cyrus Nowrasteh, the movie's director.
"As believers, we hope that children will be attracted by another child's story - Jesus' story - and that this can be a Passion of the Christ for the entire family. We even hope that, in some small way, our film leads viewers to the transformation and grace that Jesus extends to us all."
