The American director Martin Scorcese was so impressed by the book that he had considerable difficulty in getting a film adaptation from Universal for the incredibly low sum of six and a half million dollars. The distribution of the film then sparked religious riots and threats of bomb attacks on cinemas. The problems were felt not only in the USA but also around the world. Czech clergy protested against the film being shown on television.

The Last Temptation of Christ is about a mentally divided man searching for his life's mission, a frequent theme of Scorsese's heroes (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore...). Jesus doubts himself and resists the task for which he is destined by God. He does not want to be the chosen one, and when he decides to fulfill his destiny, he makes a series of mistakes and errors. Even on the cross, the former carpenter is not completely convinced that he has chosen the right path; he must live the rest of his life as an ordinary person in a dream in order to finally convince himself that he is and wants to be the Messiah. Moreover, he understands that self-sacrifice will only make sense if it is voluntary.

The actor who plays Jesus, Willem Dafoe, perfectly captures the contradictions of the character: his face is mundanely smiling delightfully and then has a mystical expression, his fighting demeanor alternates with a fragile, almost childlike vulnerability and defenselessness. The character exudes an unearthly power and is immediately overcome by fainting spells of exhaustion.

Scorsese's film may indeed provoke believers, but it is an extraordinarily impressive and enriching work.