Jesus
The “Jesus” film stands as the most-watched, most-translated film in history, and it’s an evangelistic tool Viña Studios helps adapt and promote in Guatemala.
Produced by the Genesis Project and distributed by Campus Crusade for Christ, the 1979 film continues to serve as an effective means of presenting the life of Jesus Christ, calling people to faith in his name, whether in urban settings or among primitive tribes in the remotest corners of globe.
Translated into more than 1,000 languages, the film has reportedly been viewed more than 6 billion times, reaching half the globe’s population.
In Guatemala, the “Jesus” film has been made available in eight of the country’s Mayan languages. For three languages (Central Kaqchikel, Q’eqchí and Central Kiché), Campus Crusade dubbed the movie, using a “lip-synching” approach. In five more languages Viña “adapted” the film — Achí of Rabinal, Ixil of Nebaj, Jacalteco, Mam of Tajumulco and Uspanteco. Film adaptations do not attempt to “lip sync” the dialogue, recognizing that saying the exact translated phrase in Mayan can take twice as long to say.
During the first hour, the movie portrays the birth, life and ministry of Jesus Christ; the second hour devotes attention to events leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection. Some audiences unfamiliar with television or film may need to be told that the actor is not Jesus himself. Viewers will see how Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, fed 5,000 people, calmed a storm and taught his disciples.
Filmed in Israel, “Jesus” can also be used to teach historical and cultural information of life in Bible times. Campus Crusade claims more than 230 million people have either converted to Christianity or vowed to convert after viewing the film. Some have questioned this claim, but the film has clearly been used for the kingdom of God.
Producer John Heyman began filming the movie in about 1976 as part of his ambitious Genesis Project — hoping to produce a screen version of the entire Bible. He filmed the first two chapters of Luke before joining up with Bill Bright, then-president of Campus Crusade, who secured financial backing from generous donors. Using the same sets and actors, they filmed the 2-hour feature-length version in English and a longer 4-hour, 20-minute version in Aramaic for the so-called “Luke video” series.
“Jesus,” did not succeed commercially, but Bright’s team went to work translating, distributing and projecting it all over the globe, exceeding the viewership records of virtually every Hollywood film from “Titanic” to “Star Wars.”
While the “Jesus” film is well-suited for evangelism and is meant to be viewed in one sitting, the “Luke video” series is better suited for teaching and discipleship. The “Luke video” consists of 15 episodes, each 15 to 18 minutes long.
The Jesus video is available in the following Guatemalan languages:
* Achi of Rabinal (ACR)
* Cakchiquel* (CAK) (lip sync version)
* Ixil of Nebaj (IXI)
* Jacalteco, eastern (JAC)
* Kekchi* (KEK) (lip sync version)
* Quiche* (QUC) (available in lip sync or narrated)
* Mam of Tajumulco (MPF)
* Uspanteco (USP)
Links
The "Jesus Film" webpage by Campus Crusade for Christ.
"Jesus", an overview of the 1979 film on Wikipedia.org.
"The Making of Jesus", by John Dart, originally published June 6-13, 2001 in The Christian Century.
“A Film for Bible Purists” by Time Magazine’s original review, published Nov. 5, 1979.