FALSE IDOLS

THE BOOK OF CLARENCE The Messiah is reimagined and ripped off in Jeymes Samuel's audacious new Bible story.

- LEILA LATIF

The year that Jeymes Samuel, aka The Bullitts, was born, Monty Python’s Life of Brian drew accusations of blasphemy and was banned in several areas. Samuel’s own spin on the messianic dark-comedy is less anti organised religion than Brian, but boldly portrays the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and Jesus himself, as Black. Samuel recalls how even his Black aunties raised eyebrows at the idea, and how his perception of the Messiah was based on a ‘3D picture of white Jesus on the crucifix, whose eyes would follow you around the kitchen.’

The film takes place in the final weeks of Jesus’ life but follows Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield), the twin brother of Thomas the Apostle (also Stanfield), who, in order to pay off a large debt, markets himself as an alternative Messiah and quickly reaps the rewards. Stanfield previously starred in The Harder They Fall for Samuel, but the writer-director goes further back with the man portraying Jesus himself. ‘I did not want to cast Nicholas Pinnock because he’s such a close friend. We go back 16 years,’ he says. ‘When you cast your friend as Jesus, you admit he’s your favourite actor alive.’