How has the figure of Mary crossed the ages, from the prophecy of Isaiah – who promised the people of Israel a Virgin giving birth to a son – to her appearances throughout the world, including the explorations of the 16the century – which made it known beyond the Old Continent – and the pronunciation of four Catholic dogmas about it?
Theologians, biblical scholars, art historians, museum curators, psychoanalysts and anthropologists take turns during these two episodes to provide some answers. They detail the way in which history has shaped the cult of her by whom “the infinite enters the finite, and the invisible enters the visible”as shown in the Annunciations by Florentine painters of the Quattrocento.
Crossed perspectives on a universal figure
Magnificent supports for these explanations, the representations of the Virgin follow one another on the screen: frescoes of the catacombs, oriental icons, Roman mosaics, black Madonnas, tender Virgins and Child, seductive Madonnas of the Renaissance or even pink and blue baroque Virgins pale, they are the visible witnesses of the evolution of the view that each era has had on Mary. An aesthetic look enriched by some strong scenes of The Gospel according to Saint Matthew by Pasolini, which give an even more modern aspect to the character.
Carried by original music and a commentary in finely crafted writing, this documentary is above all an exploration of the richness of Marian iconography. Through their shared views, the specialists show the universality of the figure of Mary, who, although she has been the subject of controversy, has never ceased to arouse the piety of crowds. Two speakers are known for their Christian faith: Marion Muller-Colard, Protestant theologian, and Anne Soupa, Catholic biblical scholar – who does not hesitate to challenge certain dogmas. Both offer beautiful spiritual meditations on the person of Mary.
“All about Marie”, on Arte on January 5 at 4:50 p.m., available on arte.tv.
