The Chosen

This is a very successfully crowd-funded project.  The idea was not yet another film faithfully following the Gispel but more exploring possible back stories of jesus' Disciples.  It is very engaging dramatically.   It is largely a Middle Eastern cast (except of course for the Romans).

They wanted a plausible set of buildings, not thrown together sets, so they built structures in the Utah desert.

There are some occasionally intentional anachronisms to add some humor.  As they are seeking a place for the Sermon on the Mount,  they approach one field with a sign in Hebrew: "No trespassing.  Violators will be th.'  There  often a very light touch for ,the purpose of lightening what whst is obviously a  heavy reverential subject 

My wife and I are enjoying it.  It is no substitute for a more serious film like Zefferelli's Jesus of Nazarerh.  But it is fun and makes you think about the time a bit differently. 

This is on Amazon.