The Book of Clarence: A Messiah You Didn't See Coming

The Book of Clarence tries to mix religious satire and biblical drama, but gets lost on its way to the Promised Land. Let’s find out why Clarence is the anti-Messiah nobody wanted, but everyone might love.

Clarence, the Anti-Messiah Who Might Save Us (Or Destroy Us)

Imagine waking up one day in Jerusalem around 33 AD with one goal: getting rich by selling fake miracles. No, this isn’t the dream of a modern marketer, but the premise of The Book of Clarence. Clarence, a man you could easily find at the local pub, decides that the only way out of his misery is to ride the coattails of Jesus and his apostles. And who better than LaKeith Stanfield to play this chronic opportunist? His performance gives us a Clarence as clumsy as he is determined, a man who doesn’t believe in miracles but would do anything to sell one, maybe with a Black Friday discount.

Clarence and the DIY Miraclese

If you thought selling magic potions on Instagram was the pinnacle of deception, wait until you see what Clarence gets up to. Our anti-hero surrounds himself with a band of unlikely allies, including a gladiator convinced of his immortality (played by Omar Sy) and a group of desperate souls ready to do anything for a quick buck. The plan? To recreate Jesus’s miracles, but with a DIY twist that would make even the most seasoned infomercial con artist blush. Amidst cheap tricks and embarrassing gaffes, Clarence and his companions manage to squeeze a few laughs out of us, but it’s clear that director Jeymes Samuel wants to lead us down a deeper path—a path that, spoiler alert, might make us ponder the true meaning of faith and redemption.

A Journey Between Faith and Cunning

The Book of Clarence tells the story of a man who, in a desperate bid to escape poverty and obscurity, decides to play dirty with religion. Clarence doesn’t believe in miracles; in fact, he despises them. But when he sees the power and fame surrounding Jesus and his apostles, he decides it’s time to capitalize on their success. Accompanied by a group of loyal followers and a few old acquaintances, Clarence embarks on his own “via crucis” of deceit and lies, trying to convince everyone that he is the real Messiah. But, as often happens, things don’t go as planned. The film evolves from light comedy to intense drama, culminating in a finale that will make you wonder: “In the end, who really deceived whom?”

A Film Between Satire and Depth

Let’s be clear: The Book of Clarence isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a classic biblical film with singing angels and opening heavens, this movie might leave you a bit puzzled. Samuel dares a lot, maybe too much, trying to balance dark humor with a reflection on faith and identity. The cinematography is splendid, the costumes are a feast for the eyes, and the soundtrack, curated by the director himself, immerses us in an atmosphere that blends the sacred with the profane. However, the film sometimes loses itself in its own excesses, with a script that seems to want to say too much and ends up saying nothing. Unfortunately, Stanfield’s performance suffers from a direction that asks him to be simultaneously comic, tragic, and philosophical, ending up ineffective in all three roles.