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The Nativity Story

 The Nativity Story
type
TVTItem
 The Nativity Story
label
The Nativity Story
 The Nativity Story
page
TheNativityStory
 The Nativity Story
comment
Courtesy of Catherine Hardwicke, and adapted principally from the books of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament, The Nativity Story is a fairly high-budget movie adaptation of a story particularly popular in churches during the Christmas season.While most of this film does focus on the conception and birth of Jesus to Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes), to the surprise of her husband Joseph (Oscar Isaac) and parents Joachim (Shaun Toub) and Anna (Hiam Abbass), several subplots also get considerable screen time: King Herod the Great (Ciarán Hinds) gets plenty of screen time to demonstrate both why he was "great" and why he's mostly remembered as a cruel and paranoid tyrant; his son Antipas (Alessandro Giuggioli) also spends considerable time with him in many of these scenes. Mary's cousin Elizabeth (Shohreh Aghdashloo), though past her child-bearing years, is also having a baby. After all, as Gabriel explains to Mary, if God can do that for her, getting a virgin pregnant can't be too much more difficult, can it? Meanwhile, somewhere to the east, the Three Wise Men (Stefan Kalipha, Nadim Sawalha and Eriq Ebouaney) have noticed some odd behavior in the stars telling them a child of some significance is soon to be born in Israel; naturally, they decide they'd like to see this for themselves. We also get some background on the townspeople and the culture in which Mary lives, seeing how they're mostly tax serfs slaving away on Herod's plantation.The film was released in 2006.
 The Nativity Story
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2023-06-24T07:42:56Z
 The Nativity Story
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2023-06-24T07:42:56Z
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DBTropes
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type
A Form You Are Comfortable With
 The Nativity Story / int_106f1a77
comment
A Form You Are Comfortable With: Suggested with Gabriel. He effortlessly changes forms and it seems that he has no physical form to begin with as he mostly appears in visions and dreams.
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 The Nativity Story / int_1e8681db
type
Noble Bird of Prey
 The Nativity Story / int_1e8681db
comment
Noble Bird of Prey: The film uses a hawk to symbolize the Holy Spirit. Quite a step up from the usual dove.
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The Nativity Story / int_1e8681db
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type
Ominous Latin Chanting
 The Nativity Story / int_1fdaf8ff
comment
Ominous Latin Chanting: Some examples on the soundtrack, although the music keeps with ecclesiastical tradition and uses some inspirational-sounding Latin chanting as well.
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The Nativity Story / int_1fdaf8ff
 The Nativity Story / int_2260cfe3
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Like Father, Like Son
 The Nativity Story / int_2260cfe3
comment
Like Father, Like Son: While passing the temple in Jerusalem, Joseph complains about the merchants practicing commercialism in what is meant to be a holy place. This makes an obvious Call-Forward for those in the know that Jesus will share his opinion on the subject. (Also interesting in that Joseph isn't Jesus' biological dad...)
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 The Nativity Story / int_2439b588
type
As the Good Book Says...
 The Nativity Story / int_2439b588
comment
As the Good Book Says...: Several characters quote Scripture, or have lines that are taken from the scriptural accounts of the story, sensibly enough considering the source material.
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The Nativity Story / int_2439b588
 The Nativity Story / int_259d5879
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Anachronism Stew
 The Nativity Story / int_259d5879
comment
Anachronism Stew: Several scenes have historical inaccuracies, such as Roman soldiers having beards and their horses having stirrups.
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Offing the Offspring
 The Nativity Story / int_27ab0123
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Offing the Offspring: As mentioned above, Herod discusses with his son Antipas the fact that he had several of his other sons executed, just in case Antipas gets any ideas.
 The Nativity Story / int_27ab0123
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The Nativity Story / int_27ab0123
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type
Cool, but Inefficient
 The Nativity Story / int_2cb9b1a9
comment
Cool, but Inefficient: The Wise Men observe the stars in a reflecting pool inside a building with a hole in the roof. While it looks nifty, it has several major drawbacks: the image would be backwards, the slightest disturbance in the water would interfere with observations, and the visible area of the sky would be extremely limited. The only advantage it has over looking directly at the sky is that you'd be less likely to get a crick in your neck.
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The Nativity Story / int_2cb9b1a9
 The Nativity Story / int_3bc88a7f
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Foregone Conclusion
 The Nativity Story / int_3bc88a7f
comment
Foregone Conclusion: "A gift of myrrh...to honor thy sacrifice."
 The Nativity Story / int_3bc88a7f
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The Nativity Story / int_3bc88a7f
 The Nativity Story / int_3d69ca47
type
AmicablyDivorced
 The Nativity Story / int_3d69ca47
comment
Amicably Divorced: Joseph plans on quietly divorcing Mary after she is pregnant...until Gabriel convinces him otherwise. In the end, he will raise the kid as his own.
 The Nativity Story / int_3d69ca47
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The Nativity Story / int_3d69ca47
 The Nativity Story / int_41a32b6
type
Mystical Pregnancy
 The Nativity Story / int_41a32b6
comment
Mystical Pregnancy: Both Mary and Elizabeth experience implausible pregnancies — Elizabeth being thought to be too old to have children, Mary being a virgin.
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The Nativity Story / int_41a32b6
 The Nativity Story / int_4548bae
type
Teen Pregnancy
 The Nativity Story / int_4548bae
comment
Teen Pregnancy: Played straight with the reveal of Mary's pregnancy, despite the unusual circumstances. Mary's reputation with the townspeople takes a serious hit, as does Joseph's when he decides to go through with the marriage.
 The Nativity Story / int_4548bae
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The Nativity Story / int_4548bae
 The Nativity Story / int_479d4e5a
type
Would Hurt a Child
 The Nativity Story / int_479d4e5a
comment
Would Hurt a Child: Herod. Or at least, he'd order his soldiers to hurt children.
 The Nativity Story / int_479d4e5a
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The Nativity Story / int_479d4e5a
 The Nativity Story / int_4977559e
type
Our Angels Are Different
 The Nativity Story / int_4977559e
comment
Our Angels Are Different: While not a huge departure from the Renaissance-inspired image (of happy and well-fed Italian guys with curly blond hair) most viewers would have of an angel, Gabriel's very Jewish appearance in this movie, while wholly justified, did look rather odd to some people.
 The Nativity Story / int_4977559e
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The Nativity Story / int_4977559e
 The Nativity Story / int_537dd8fe
type
Affably Evil
 The Nativity Story / int_537dd8fe
comment
Affably Evil: Herod's son Antipas usually comes off as much nicer than his father, but when he recommends the Three Wise Men be arrested and interrogated, it's Herod who proposes inviting them to dinner for some friendly conversation instead.
 The Nativity Story / int_537dd8fe
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The Nativity Story / int_537dd8fe
 The Nativity Story / int_5c0fc07b
type
Nightmare Sequence
 The Nativity Story / int_5c0fc07b
comment
Nightmare Sequence: Joseph's dream about the stoning of Mary.
 The Nativity Story / int_5c0fc07b
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The Nativity Story / int_5c0fc07b
 The Nativity Story / int_5ee2f7cc
type
My Secret Pregnancy
 The Nativity Story / int_5ee2f7cc
comment
My Secret Pregnancy: Averted; although no one speaks up to complain, the whole town pretty quickly surmises Mary's situation.
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The Nativity Story / int_5ee2f7cc
 The Nativity Story / int_603f1a80
type
Pragmatic Adaptation
 The Nativity Story / int_603f1a80
comment
Pragmatic Adaptation: This not being a musical, some of the the poetry traditionally identified as "songs" in the book of Luke was understandably either trimmed down or trimmed out. The Three Wise Men show up at the manger, despite most Bible scholars believing they more likely arrived some time later. Obviously, the more accurate version would have resulted in an anticlimax.
 The Nativity Story / int_603f1a80
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The Nativity Story / int_603f1a80
 The Nativity Story / int_629fa757
type
Perfectly Arranged Marriage
 The Nativity Story / int_629fa757
comment
Perfectly Arranged Marriage: The film portrays Joseph as already liking Mary before their arranged marriage was set, and Mary warms up to him after a bit.
 The Nativity Story / int_629fa757
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1.0
 The Nativity Story / int_629fa757
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The Nativity Story / int_629fa757
 The Nativity Story / int_6d9bc945
type
Babies Ever After
 The Nativity Story / int_6d9bc945
comment
Babies Ever After: An interesting variation. The film's heartwarming resolution of course is the arrival of Mary and Joseph's baby, but without knowing who the baby grows up to be there wouldn't be much point to telling the story in the first place.
 The Nativity Story / int_6d9bc945
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The Nativity Story / int_6d9bc945
 The Nativity Story / int_716c0b1b
type
And the Adventure Continues
 The Nativity Story / int_716c0b1b
comment
And the Adventure Continues: Our loving couple and their new baby got away clean, but they aren't home free yet.
 The Nativity Story / int_716c0b1b
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The Nativity Story / int_716c0b1b
 The Nativity Story / int_87380797
type
Bible Times
 The Nativity Story / int_87380797
comment
Bible Times: Takes place during Mary and Joseph's time.
 The Nativity Story / int_87380797
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The Nativity Story / int_87380797
 The Nativity Story / int_8b87b21f
type
Now I Know What to Name Him
 The Nativity Story / int_8b87b21f
comment
Now I Know What to Name Him: Jesus and it also counts for Zechariah being told by God to name his son John.
 The Nativity Story / int_8b87b21f
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The Nativity Story / int_8b87b21f
 The Nativity Story / int_916ecb1
type
But I Can't Be Pregnant!
 The Nativity Story / int_916ecb1
comment
But I Can't Be Pregnant!: Elizabeth's pregnancy comes as a shock since she's supposed to be too old to have a baby. Her husband is in denial and gets punished by God as a result until their son is born.
 The Nativity Story / int_916ecb1
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The Nativity Story / int_916ecb1
 The Nativity Story / int_91db89a0
type
The Three Wise Men
 The Nativity Story / int_91db89a0
comment
The Three Wise Men: Naturally as it can’t be an adaptation of The Nativity without them.
 The Nativity Story / int_91db89a0
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The Nativity Story / int_91db89a0
 The Nativity Story / int_970c790a
type
Big Bad
 The Nativity Story / int_970c790a
comment
Big Bad: The Roman soldiers commit several atrocities and the tiresome tax enrollment comes from the distant Emperor Augustus, but it's mostly King Herod the Great who's running the show on the villains' side of the story.
 The Nativity Story / int_970c790a
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The Nativity Story / int_970c790a
 The Nativity Story / int_9b06e314
type
Greater-Scope Villain
 The Nativity Story / int_9b06e314
comment
Greater-Scope Villain: While mentioned in the opening, and alluded to be the reason for the high taxation and brutality of the land, Emperor Caesar Augustus never makes an appearance in the story.
 The Nativity Story / int_9b06e314
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The Nativity Story / int_9b06e314
 The Nativity Story / int_9d12bbc1
type
Foreshadowing
 The Nativity Story / int_9d12bbc1
comment
Foreshadowing: Plenty. A street prophet gets crucified. Halfway through their journey, Joseph's feet get injured. Mary washes his feet while he sleeps. Mary and Joseph encounter vendors at the temple in Jerusalem selling animals for offering. Joseph complains: "This is meant to be a holy place."
 The Nativity Story / int_9d12bbc1
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The Nativity Story / int_9d12bbc1
 The Nativity Story / int_9d5a2cdf
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Intimidating Revenue Service
 The Nativity Story / int_9d5a2cdf
comment
Intimidating Revenue Service: The Roman tax collectors are feared in Nazareth, for reasons that quickly become obvious.
 The Nativity Story / int_9d5a2cdf
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The Nativity Story / int_9d5a2cdf
 The Nativity Story / int_a6cda066
type
Rule of Three
 The Nativity Story / int_a6cda066
comment
Rule of Three: This movie goes with the very traditional (though not strictly Biblical) The Three Wise Men, who are stated to have brought three gifts.
 The Nativity Story / int_a6cda066
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The Nativity Story / int_a6cda066
 The Nativity Story / int_ab3e824b
type
Backstab Backfire
 The Nativity Story / int_ab3e824b
comment
Backstab Backfire: Herod has his suspicions about Antipas' motives. So he reminds him about the last time his family members tried to betray him, and warns him that the same fate will befall him should he try to screw him over.
 The Nativity Story / int_ab3e824b
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The Nativity Story / int_ab3e824b
 The Nativity Story / int_ab5eea65
type
Dramatic Irony
 The Nativity Story / int_ab5eea65
comment
Dramatic Irony: When Mary and Joseph are in Jerusalem, they pass within a few feet of Herod, who will later do his level best to have their baby killed. Naturally they don't spare each other a second glance.
 The Nativity Story / int_ab5eea65
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The Nativity Story / int_ab5eea65
 The Nativity Story / int_ad1db87c
type
Oh, Crap!
 The Nativity Story / int_ad1db87c
comment
Oh, Crap!: Joseph panics after Mary tells him that her water just broke upon reaching Bethlehem.
 The Nativity Story / int_ad1db87c
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The Nativity Story / int_ad1db87c
 The Nativity Story / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 The Nativity Story / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Joseph, believe it or not. As the couple makes their journey to Bethlehem they must face the angry and disapproving stares of their neighbors.
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The Nativity Story / int_ae3d6438
 The Nativity Story / int_b4068912
type
Star of Bethlehem
 The Nativity Story / int_b4068912
comment
Star of Bethlehem: As in the original, this sets up the quest of the Wise Men, and makes a big appearance in the climax.
 The Nativity Story / int_b4068912
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The Nativity Story / int_b4068912
 The Nativity Story / int_bbda4d83
type
Away in a Manger
 The Nativity Story / int_bbda4d83
comment
Away in a Manger: The Trope Maker receives its umpteenth adaptation in this film.
 The Nativity Story / int_bbda4d83
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The Nativity Story / int_bbda4d83
 The Nativity Story / int_c0e07e0
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Archangel Gabriel
 The Nativity Story / int_c0e07e0
comment
Archangel Gabriel: Doing what he does best.
 The Nativity Story / int_c0e07e0
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The Nativity Story / int_c0e07e0
 The Nativity Story / int_c380b0f3
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Romance Ensues
 The Nativity Story / int_c380b0f3
comment
Romance Ensues: Mary and Joseph are in an arranged marriage and join forces against suspicious parents and neighbors, and take a long journey together to Bethlehem and beyond. The two become closer during the series of events and it's implied Mary may return Joseph's feelings.
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The Nativity Story / int_c380b0f3
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Talking with Signs
 The Nativity Story / int_d06305ff
comment
Talking with Signs: Until the birth of John, Zechariah is forced to communicate by writing on a tablet.
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The Nativity Story / int_d06305ff
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Chaos of the Bells
 The Nativity Story / int_d7d7fff1
comment
Chaos of the Bells: The song is played when Mary goes into labor in Bethlehem and she and Joseph frantically and desperately search for a safe place to deliver Christ.
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 The Nativity Story / int_dfbb1685
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"Pan Up to the Sky" Ending
 The Nativity Story / int_dfbb1685
comment
"Pan Up to the Sky" Ending: Ends with panning up to the sun and clouds on a bright day.
 The Nativity Story / int_dfbb1685
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The Nativity Story / int_dfbb1685
 The Nativity Story / int_eb8f64a6
type
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
 The Nativity Story / int_eb8f64a6
comment
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Mary's reputation takes a hit after it becomes obvious that she is pregnant (after gladly taking on the role of the Mother of the Savior) and so does Joseph's after he goes through with the marriage rather than leave her to public shame or worse.
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The Nativity Story / int_eb8f64a6
 The Nativity Story / int_f77aa221
type
Nice Job Breaking It, Herod
 The Nativity Story / int_f77aa221
comment
Nice Job Breaking It, Herod: This movie reminds us once again why Herod is the Trope Namer.
 The Nativity Story / int_f77aa221
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The Nativity Story / int_f77aa221
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type
Young Future Famous People
 The Nativity Story / int_ff41780
comment
Young Future Famous People: How about unborn future famous person?
 The Nativity Story / int_ff41780
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The Nativity Story

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The Nativity Story
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Babies Ever After / int_d67ac77e
 The Nativity Story
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Bible Times / int_d67ac77e
 The Nativity Story
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Chaos of the Bells / int_d67ac77e
 The Nativity Story
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Christian Fiction / int_d67ac77e
 Jesus
seeAlso
The Nativity Story
 The Nativity Story
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Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe / int_d67ac77e
 The Nativity Story
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Noble Bird of Prey / int_d67ac77e
 The Nativity Story
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"Pan Up to the Sky" Ending / int_d67ac77e
 The Nativity Story
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The Film of the Book / int_d67ac77e
 The Nativity Story
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The Three Wise Men / int_d67ac77e
 The Nativity Story
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Three-Month-Old Newborn / int_d67ac77e
 The Nativity Story
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Young Future Famous People / int_d67ac77e