Secrets of Mary Magdalene

The phenomenal success of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code has spurred renewed interest in Mary Magdalene, whose offhanded identification in the New Testament Gospels as a reformed prostitute may well have obscured her true place in the history of early Christianity. At least, that's the view taken by authors Dan Burstein and Arne de Keijzer, whose nonfiction book Secrets of Mary Magdalene inspired this speculative documentary. Shot at the actual locations referenced in the Gospels, and peppered with the opinions of various historians and biblical scholars, the film suggests that Mary Magdalene, far from being a prostitute, was at the very least one of Christ's apostles and perhaps his wife as well—a woman whose significance may have been deliberately suppressed and her image tarnished to serve the purposes of an evolving church that supported patriarchal cultures (the program points to Gnostic Gospels that paint a strikingly different picture of Mary). In addition to the main program, the DVD features a roundtable discussion on Mary Magdalene conducted by religious experts (including Elaine Pagels, author of The Gnostic Gospels), as well as a bonus half-hour program entitled “More Secrets of Mary Magdalene.” Given the current popularity of all things related to The Da Vinci Code, the well-made Secrets of Mary Magdalene is easily recommended. Aud: P. (E. Hulse)