The Grandfather of Jesus

The film is based on the Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal text written around the 2nd century AD. It recounts the life of Joachim and Anna, their grief at not having children, Joachim's rejection in the Temple, and his retreat into the desert, culminating in the announcement of Mary's birth. It presents several differences from the apocryphal text. In the film, the narrative focuses on Saint Joachim, while in the book, both Joachim and Anna are protagonists. The setting changes; the desert of the book becomes a vast field surrounded by trees, depicting the protagonist's solitude and inner reflection. The plot focuses on Joachim's inner experience, showing his doubts, prayer, fasting, and the silence of God, while the Protoevangelium describes a series of events with dialogues, miracles, and the announcement of Mary's birth. The film adopts a poetic and meditative tone, made up of silences and moments of contemplation, and features monologues that are prayers by Joachim, unlike the book's style, which is more narrative, detailed and descriptive.