What would the crucifixion and resurrection look like through the eyes of an unbeliever? That is the question answered in the new movie, Risen. Last week I was able to interview Rich Peluso, who is the Senior Vice President of AFFIRM Films (a division of Sony Pictures). That night I was able to attend an advance screening of the film.

The movie takes a familiar story to all of us who are Christians and helps us see it through the eyes of Clavius, a Roman tribune who is second in command to Pontius Pilate. He is charged with confirming the death of Jesus Christ and then releases the body for burial in a tomb. He is then called back to check the tomb and guard it. We learn that it takes seven men just to roll back the huge stone in front of the entrance. He then places ropes and the official Roman wax seal on the tomb. And he posts guards at the tomb.

When the tomb is reported empty, Pilate demands that Clavius find the body. The guards lie about what happened. They say they fell asleep and that the disciples stole the body. Clavius is skeptical about their report given the physical evidence at the tomb and continues to look for the body by tracking down the disciples. This part of the film has the elements of a first century detective story.

The acting and production values are well done. Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love) plays Clavius. Tom Felton (Harry Potter) plays his aide, Lucius. Christians and non-Christians should enjoy the movie. The film also provides a context for an evangelistic and apologetic discussion of the resurrection. We see and hear elements of the biblical narrative strung together along a story line of historical fiction.

I think this film will provide Christians with another resource to present the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.