EIFF2008: Jesus Christ Saviour

In the early 70s, Klaus Kinski embarked on a tour in which he told the story of Jesus, in his own particular style, to stadia full of thousands of fans. In one particular venue, a small group of fans took exception to his preaching, labelling him a fascist and a hypocrite among other things. Now, if you know Kinski, you'll know he's famous for being madder than a box of badgers, so naturally this did not go down well. Hijinks ensue.

Previously this footage was limited to a brief snippet in the Herzog documentary MY BEST FIEND, but now it has been assembled into this movie, presenting the almost complete picture, from the start of the show, through the heckling and attempts to restart it to the subdued aftermath.

If you're no fan of Kinski, you may well question what the fuss is about; alternatively you may be converted to the cause. If, on the other hand, you adore the man, his work and his legend, this film is something else. It's utterly captivating from start to finish, whether it's Kinski reading about Jesus or reacting furiously to upstarts in the crowd. You just can't stop watching, or at least I couldn't.

Another highlight of the festival. A word of caution if you end up watching it - the movie continues for quite some time after the closing credits. You've been warned.