Willem Dafoe Reflects on Widespread Backlash to 1988 Jesus Film

Willem Dafoe recently reflected on the intense and multifaceted backlash to his role as Jesus in Martin Scorsese’s 1988 film The Last Temptation of Christ during a career masterclass at the Sarajevo Film Festival. The film's portrayal of Jesus as a man grappling with human desires and rejecting his messianic duties sparked widespread protests, boycotts, and theater bans, driven largely by the religious right who criticized the movie without seeing it. Dafoe revealed that the controversy escalated into antisemitic attacks targeting Jews in Hollywood, a development wrongly attributed to the Catholic Church but actually initiated by fundamentalist groups in America. Despite the severe backlash, including threats to Scorsese and distribution limits, Dafoe called the role one of his favorites due to its demanding nature and the film's sincere exploration of faith amid an era of more graphic cinematic content. The low-budget, stripped-down production was intended to focus on authenticity rather than spectacle, which Dafoe found beautiful and graceful. Overall, Dafoe expressed shock at the intensity and nature of the opposition, emphasizing the film’s earnest attempt to address the human side of Jesus and the nature of faith.