The cinematic retelling of Jesus’s story has a profound power to touch both believers and non-believers alike. Films like Cecil B. DeMille’s “The King of Kings” (1927) offered grand, sweeping visuals that brought the biblical narrative to life, creating an emotional connection that transcends religious boundaries. Franco Zeffirelli’s “Jesus of Nazareth” (1977) meticulously portrays Jesus’s life with depth and nuance, inviting viewers from all walks of life to engage with his teachings, humanity, and divinity. Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” (2004) presents a visceral, intense depiction of Jesus’s suffering, compelling audiences to confront the raw emotions of his sacrifice. These films, with their powerful storytelling and visual impact, have the ability to evoke deep reflection, empathy, and inspiration, resonating universally regardless of faith. Unlike these, however, A Deaf Missions Film aims to connect with a specific demographic: the 96% to 98% of deaf Americans who are also non-believers.   Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film The greatest story ever told has returned to the silver screen, but this time with a unique distinction. A Deaf Missions Film presents Jesus’s Ministry and Passion entirely in American Sign Language (ASL), making it the only religious film—and the only film of any kind—to do so. Created by deaf people for deaf people, it is truly a film of a mission with a mission.   Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film Review Making a quality movie with quality people on both sides of the camera is already a daunting enough task. One need only look at the sad state of American cinema to see how shallow the talent pool has become. Combine that with finding an entire cast that is fluent in American Sign Language, and you would need a miracle to demonstrate even base-level competence. Fortunately, this film surpasses that lowly metric, and Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film exceeds expectations. Bolstered by chronicling the most important event in human history since the creation of the universe, the cast and crew’s obvious love for the source material, and their clear devotion to the cause of bringing the Word to the hearing impaired, Jesus brings its own special beauty to Christ’s story, despite any weaknesses that it might have. The performances range from a handful of not-so-greats to a majority of not-too-bads, with Ryan Schlecht playing Caiaphas arguably giving the film’s best performance. Schlecht’s focus is fairly strong throughout, and the role of Caiaphas naturally lends itself to film-friendly theatrics. Playing Jesus, Gideon Firl infuses our savior with a refreshing sweetness not generally portrayed in other big-screen adaptations of our Savior, the one exception perhaps being the chair scene in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ. Jesus’ production value outstrips what was no doubt a very modest budget. Costumes seem appropriate, if maybe a little too new-looking, and locations and sets are perfectly adequate.  The filmmakers took advantage of some computer-enhanced establishing shots that do a fine job conveying the land’s scope and its important locales, even if their artificial nature is apparent. Unlike The Greatest Story Ever Told or King of Kings, which tells of Jesus’ life from beginning to end to beginning, or The Passion, which focuses on Jesus’ final days on Earth, Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film focuses mainly on Jesus’ ministry, playing all of the hits from healing the sick to raising the dead. It’s an understandable choice given the filmmakers’ goal of spreading the Word to a niche market that hasn’t been exposed to it. Still, it lacks an emotional throughline that a more focused story would have conveyed and subsequently feels like a series of short plays rather than one long narrative. That said, those well-versed in the source material will appreciate the various tales, and each one is so significant to the rest of history, Western civilization, and our own personal stories that I have no doubt many and more deaf viewers will be moved to partner with Christ while hearing believers like myself will find themselves moved by the love and sacrifice made on our unworthy behalfs.   WOKE ELEMENTS Prove To Me That You’re No Fool, Walk Across My Swimming Pool No The post Jesus A Deaf Missions Film first appeared on Worth It or Woke.