Netflix’s ‘Mary’: Catholic director says he wanted to ‘pay great reverence’ to Blessed Mother

CNA Staff, Dec 13, 2024 / 07:00 am

A new movie from Netflix about the Blessed Virgin Mary has received mixed reviews, with some Catholics on social media criticizing the film’s depiction of Mary and the kind of relationship she had with Joseph. 

“There’s always going to be criticisms, no matter what kind of movie you make, but if you do it all for the right reasons, which we did, then to me that takes care of itself,” the film’s director, D.J. Caruso, a Catholic, told CNA in an interview. 

According to Caruso, every decision made was done to “make the best possible movie” and “to pay great reverence to this amazing woman and her life.”

Netflix’s “Mary” was released on the digital streaming platform Dec. 6. It is considered a coming-of-age biblical epic and portrays Mary’s experience after her miraculous conception of Jesus and her journey on the run from King Herod.

Remaining true to the Scriptures was at the “foundation” of creating the film, Caruso said. The script went through 74 drafts and received input from Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim religious leaders, including the late Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell of Los Angeles, who served as Caruso’s spiritual adviser.

One memory the Catholic director holds close to his heart is a conversation he had with O’Connell about the script and the bishop told him: “Please, give Joseph a voice … Joseph was a hero and we never see Joseph as a hero.” 

“So, I promised him that I would make Joseph that,” Caruso shared.

Actress Noa Cohen as the Blessed Virgin Mary in Netflix's new film "Mary." Credit: Netflix

Another aspect Caruso wanted to focus on was the humanity of Mary, which also played a role in inspiring the creation of the film.

“I always felt, particularly by the younger audience or the younger faith-based group, that there’s a great appreciation for the Holy Mother and everything she is — this great, iconic, beautiful woman,” he said. “But what was it like when she was a young woman and this was all happening? To use her as our anchor and to see this all happening through her eyes and the humanity she had … It just to me felt like it was the most compelling way to tell the story.”

As a father to a young daughter, Caruso thought: “Wouldn’t it be great if a 17-year-old saw this movie and went like, ‘Mary is cool. Not only do I love her but she’s so cool.’”

Caruso believes portraying the human side to divine figures as well as holy figures, such as the Blessed Mother, “makes them endearing, it makes them relatable.”

“There’s a great reverence paid to them, but at the same time, in that reverence, you never got to see the struggles or what was it like and in order for me to do this what’s it going to cost? It takes great courage and great sacrifice to do something amazing the way Mary did,” he explained. 

“And what about the human side of her and the decisions she had to make? It really makes a character relatable and it makes you understand their plight more and it brings you closer to them when it’s done well … I wanted to bring out a human element in Mary.” 

Caruso shared that throughout his career his faith has “played a large role because it is who I am, so it’s always going to sort of show up.”

“Even if it’s not necessarily a religious story, I’ve always infused it and sort of celebrated God’s unconditional love,” he said. 

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While making this film, Mary’s “fiat” and her acceptance of God’s will impacted Caruso personally. He pointed out the “bizarre disarray” society is currently in and the need for each of us to make the right choices.

“Whether we’re young, older, we have to make choices — is man’s nature going to be driving me and all this kind of stuff or is God’s grace going to be my guidance?” 

Reflecting on Mary’s powerful words, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” Caruso said: “If we can take that into our heart and if that could be the message that’s getting around this Christmas, as Catholics, we have to make that choice to say, ‘I will give it to you and I will surrender, and I’m going to put it in your hands.’ I think that’s a really important message.”