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In the film, Mary’s betrothal to Joseph is imposed on her by her parents, and local people are scandalised to hear that she is pregnant. “Two thousand years ago — how similar is that to teenage life now?” Hardwicke said.

The director admitted that scenes showing Mary and Elizabeth feeling the movements of the babies in each other’s wombs were “kind of girly. That’s the chick flick part of it.” But she had wanted to get across their “inspiring strength, dignity and beauty”.

In America Ted Baehr, chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission, said The Nativity Story was “Hollywood finally putting Christ back into Christmas”. The consultants included Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Billy Graham. She said: “God’s hand is on this movie. It is destined to become a beloved Christmas classic.”

Mr Baehr said that after The Passion, Hollywood had “recognised there’s a gigantic part of the population that goes to church each week. Christian movies make two to seven times as much money, and often four to six times as much money, as movies with explicit sex and nudity.”

Proceeds from the premiere will go toward construction of a school in Mughar, a village 25 miles from Nazareth.

Faith under fire

The Last Temptation of Christ Martin Scorsese’s 1988 film showed Christ in bed with Mary Magdalene. Record complaints when shown on Channel 4

The Passion of the Christ Mel Gibson’s film is said to have been “watched and enjoyed” by the Pope but it was criticised for portraying Jews as “bloodthirsty, and money-hungry”. 2004

The Da Vinci Code “Full of calumnies, offences, and historical and theological errors,” Archbishop Angelo Amato said. 2006

The Pope Must Die(t)

A light-hearted comedy. The ‘t’ was added when companies refused to promote it. 1991

Source: Times archives, Catholic World News