Jesus of Montreal

In Montreal, an unknown actor named Daniel Coulombe is hired by le sanctuaire to present a passion play in its gardens. Father Leclerc asks him to modernize the material, which he considers outdated. Daniel begins intensive research, delving into historical context and exploring interpretations of Jesus in the Talmud.

He checks the historicity of Jesus through archaeology and the Talmud, using the name Yeshua Ben Pantera. He builds a provocative reinterpretation that challenges official doctrine. This research anchors his approach to the production.

He draws together actors from marginal backgrounds for the project. He moves in with two of them, Constance and Mireille, to rehearse and integrate them into the production. The unconventional living arrangement foreshadows the group's outsider status.

When the play is performed, the audience is thrilled and the reviews are glowing. Father Leclerc denounces the production as controversial and an affront to Catholic doctrine, which strains his relationship with Daniel. The clash between artistic ambition and church authority deepens.

The higher authorities of the Roman Catholic Church object to Daniel's interpretation with growing vigor. Security and church leadership push back, escalating tensions around the production. Daniel's ambitions clash with institutional power.

During Mireille's audition, she is asked to remove her top, prompting Daniel to react violently. He damages equipment and assaults a director, leading to criminal charges. The incident marks a turning point in the controversy surrounding the project.

In the wake of the confrontation, higher church authorities order a suspension of the performance and security forces intervene. The audience and the other actors protest the intervention, heightening the drama around the production. The disruption underscores the feud between art and doctrine.

Daniel is injured in an ensuing accident amid the clashes with authorities. The injury becomes the catalyst for a rapid descent from the stage to hospitalization.

He is taken by ambulance to an overrun Catholic hospital where he is neglected and treatment is slow. The neglect accelerates his decline and he ultimately leaves the hospital.

After leaving the Catholic hospital, he collapses on a Montreal Metro platform and is rushed to the Jewish General Hospital by the same ambulance. Doctors there begin urgent efforts to save him.

Despite the doctors' swift and skilled efforts, Daniel is pronounced brain dead at the Jewish General Hospital. His lack of relatives necessitates donor consent from friends to proceed with organ donation.

His eyes and heart are donated to other patients, giving others a second chance at life. The donation process underscores the tragedy while highlighting a lasting impact of Daniel's final act.

In the wake of Daniel's death, his friends form a new theatre company to carry on his experimental work. The project preserves his vision and gives the troupe a fresh start inspired by his uncompromising approach.