Christ Among the Primitives

movie

movie poster for Christ Among the Primitives

Released March 06, 1953

Overview

Christ Among the Primitives is an 1953 Italian language short film directed by Vincenzo Lucci-Chiarissi. It examines primitive sculptures and traces the evolution of religious motives in early man. It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Subject, One-Reel.

Reviews

Rating: 6/10

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CinemaSerf:

This is quite an interesting montage of artefacts that depict the Christ figure and associated imagery very much from an almost pagan perspective. In fact, if you didn’t know that there was a connection to Christianity (the Vatican had an hand in this production) then you could easily be forgiven for thinking this was a collection of far more generic, exaggerated and sexualised objects sculpted of wood and stone - though as it progresses that more traditional identification is easier to make. It has a slightly oppressive score, but you cannot but appreciate the beautiful and detailed craftsmanship on display contrasting with some more basic and rudimentary, almost animalistic, depictions that look Aztec and Inca in nature. The production is basic but effective and art historians and/or those of religiosity might find this worth a watch.

7/9/2025