Genre: Comedy, drama
The Book of Clarence is not for the faint hearted and is a thought-provoking and engaging film that balances comedy, drama, and satire, but is not suitable for all audiences due to its mature content.
The movie is set in 33AD and takes place at the same time as the story of Jesus and his 12 apostles.
It tells the story of a man named Clarence (played by LaKeith Stanfield), a down-on-his-luck weed seller, who is constantly on the lookout for a scheme that can help him get out of debt and win the heart of the woman of his dreams.
Clarence doesn’t believe in God and believes that Jesus is a scam who fools people with his ‘tricks’.
Clarence’s schemes lead him on a journey of self-discovery as he learns the hard way what is truly important in life.
This is a film that finds a balance between comedy, drama and satire. It is funny, sad, thought provoking and sometimes uncomfortable.
The cast includes stars like Teyana Taylor, David Oleyowo, Caleb McLaughlin, Nicholas Pinnock, RJ Cyler and Omar Sy.
All the actors shine in their respective roles and bring the complex story to life in an intriguing and engaging way.
Benedict Cumberbatch and James McAvoy also make brief cameos that add an extra element of fun to the storyline.
The camera work and costumes of the film are brilliant. The various camera choices made are very creative, especially the opening chariot race and the last supper scenes.
A deep knowledge of the Bible and the stories referenced is not an absolute necessity but can enhance the understanding of some of the themes in this movie and may help viewers enjoy it more. The debate about which is more important or powerful, faith or knowledge, is a recurring thought throughout the film and viewers will be forced to pick a side.
The subject matter might make devout Christians uncomfortable, but the humour and exaggerated details of the story should be enough to remind you that it is just a movie. The director and writers ensured that the film was shot in a non-disrespectful way.
It is not suitable family viewing due to drug use, profanity and violence.
The Book of Clarence is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
