L'inchiesta

An agent from the emperor Tiberius (Keith Carradine) arrives in Judea to investigate the reputed resurrection of Jesus. Pontius Pilate (Harvey Keitel) is suspicious of the investigator's intentions; Pilate's wife (Phyllis Logan, later in the series LOVEJOY) has her own agenda. I expected a work of religious propaganda masquerading as historical drama...but this movie is a genuine intellectual thriller and went places I did not anticipate. It's a serious treatment of the political and religious thought-world of the time, convincingly gritty and violent, and the intent of the filmmakers is ultimately both ambitious and ambiguous. Yes, the agent played by Carradine goes on a spiritual quest, but probably not the one that viewers expect.

This may be one of my favorite films set in the ancient world. It is certainly one of the best to deal with the origins of Christianity, almost in a class with BARABBAS.

The biggest weakness of the movie is the acting. Carradine and Keitel both deliver some stiff line-readings. I suspect the Italian director was not much help to them. (And compared to, say, the "perfect storm" of acting conjured by Peter O'Toole and Peter Strauss in MASADA, these guys are pretty lightweight.) But Carradine ultimately rises to the occasion, especially in the crucial last half-hour.

I haven't seen this movie on DVD anywhere except from Germany; fortunately, the Region 2 German DVD has an English track.

Footnote: the 2006 Italian telemovie with the same title is a very weak remake, retaining only the basic premise and the name of the main character.

This original version titled ¨Inquire¨ (1987) treated the Resurrection as a mystery thriller , directed by Damiano Damiani ; being well starred by Keith Carradine as Tito Valerio , Harvey Keitel as Pontius Pilate and Phyllis Logan as Claudia Procula . A Roman Tribune is sent from Capri by emperor Tiberio to find out what happened to the missing body of Jesus . In 35 A.D. , an overconfident Roman tribune named Tito Valerio (Keith Carradine) is sent to a remote part of the empire called Palestine to on a bizarre investigation to discover the death and possible resurrection of a certain Jesus from Nazareth , only to attract the suspicion of the local governor Pontius Pilate (Harvey Keitel) . This is the thrilling tale of one man's quest to uncover the mystery of all mysteries and while an official cover-up is presumed . Sent to disprove the resurrection and on a spiritual quest , he discovers faith , love (to Phyllis Logan as Procula, Pontius's wife) and a revelation that could shatter the empire .

Interesting story treating the resurrection of Jesus Christ with intrigue , suspense , an adulterous love story and adding historical events . This 1987 picture was enjoyable , brooding , and gritty but sadly was definitively rather tiring as well as slow-moving and had a flop at box office . There appears several historic characters in brief acting as Tiberius , Maria mother of Jesus , Maria Magdalena and of course , Pontius Pilate . The screenplay deals with a timeless issue , being attractive and convincingly realized . The story from Suso Cecchi D'Amico and Ennio Flaiano even had an exclusive one-week theatrical engagement in Dallas , Texas . It's an acceptable treatment of the political and religious themes , convincingly developed and the intent of the director seems to be well handled , being ultimately both thought-provoking and agreeable . Casting is frankly good such as : Keith Carradine as hard-nosed investigator , Phyllis Logan as disillusioned wife and Harvey Keitel as cunning Pontius Pilatus ; both of them deliver some insightful dialogs . But Keith Carradine ultimately rises to the occasion , especially in the crucial last half-hour . Fine support cast such as Angelo Infanti , Georgia Slowe , Manuel De Blas , Sal Borghese and Lina Satri as Maria Di Magdala . It's an European co-production among various countries as Italy/Tunisia/Spain with marvelous outdoors from Tunisia . Evocative as well as atmospheric musical score by Riz Ortalani . Colorful and adequate cinematography by Franco Di Giacomo , the filming took place in Tunisia , including its deserts and villages . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Damiano Damiani and very skillfully written too . Damiano is an expert on all kind of genres as Drama (¨Arthur's island¨ , ¨The Most Beautiful Wife" , ¨The witch¨ , and ¨Empty canvas¨ based on the Alberto Moravia novel) , Terror (Amytiville 2 : the possession) , Spaghetti Western (¨Trinity is back again¨and the prestigious ¨A bullet for the General¨ with Klaus Kinski) . Damiani was specialized on crime-thriller-Subgenre or Italian cop thriller (¨Confessions of a Police captain¨ , ¨How to kill a judge¨, ¨The case is closed , forget it¨, "Goodbye e amen" , ¨Mafia¨, "I Am Afraid" and ¨Warning¨ starred by Martin Balsam) . This ¨The Inquiry¨ results to be its only film in historical genre .

The same story about a Roman tribune is sent to Palestine to investigate the death and possible resurrection of a certain Jesus from Nasareth had a new retelling also titled ¨Inquiry¨(2006) by Giulio Base starred Daniel Liotti , Dolph Lundgren , Monica Cruz , Anna Kanakis and Ornella Muti ; being conceived as both a theatrical film and a TV movie , the biggest weakness of the movie is the acting and being more commercial , more amusing and aimed for all kind of public as teens as adults . The picture has a Christian point of view that holds interest , while the 1987 adaptation had an offbeat and ambiguous resolution .

I saw this film about twelve years ago (the original Italian version, since I speak Italian)and I've been trying to acquire it ever since. I found the film's motif a timeless subject and handled very skillfully too. There are few film's I have been intrigued by but this I cannot recommend highly enough. I enjoyed the performances of Harvey Kietel and Keith Carradine; in fact I wasn't long into the film before I'd forgotten that both actors had an Italian voiceover. Harvey is a credible Pontius Pilate, who sends Carradine off on a dangerous mission. I'm amazed that the film's Director,Damiano Damiani hadn't come to a much wider international audience. If anyone knows where I might pick up a copy of the Italian version, I would sure appreciate their help. seoirle

I don't know how people are giving this high reviews, unless they are involved with the production. Given that there may have been an "inquiry" (doubtful), as Jesus' crucifixion was likely one among many committed by the Romans. And...that news of a resurrection was likely dismissed by Roman heirachy as just so much nuisance by so called Christian fanatics, as they were viewed by the Romans at the time, this production is fiction appropriation for the sake of drama. Also, the added soap opera relationship just adds to the ludicrousy. Not sure who this production was made for, but Christians will surely just view it as fiction.

I was at first surprised by this Damiano Damiani feature, after he has not used us with such topics, about Christianity. But if you analyse closely this story, you'll notice that there are some points in common with his other films concerning mafia: the quest of one man for a truth, a mystery to find everything about. Instead of the mafia, it is the truth about Jesus Christ. We also find here is pessimism, as we had in his crime movies. I am amazed by this feature, with Keith Carradine as Franco Nero was in the mafia films. I don't understand why it is not better widely known.

A rare gem for me. That's my own opinion.