Joseph (1995 film)

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Joseph
Joseph (film).jpg
Written by
Directed by Roger Young
Starring
Music by
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producers
  • Luca Bernabei
  • Laura Fattori
Cinematography Raffaele Mertes
EditorBenjamin A. Weissman
Running time185 minutes
Original release
Network TNT
ReleaseApril 16, 1995 (1995-04-16)

The Bible: Joseph is a 1995 German/Italian/American television miniseries about the life of Joseph from the Old Testament. It was filmed in Morocco and aired on TNT on April 16, 1995. At the 47th Primetime Emmy Awards, from five nominations, Joseph won Outstanding Miniseries, becoming the first show on a cable network to win in that Category.

Contents

Plot

In Ancient Egypt, Joseph is a Hebrew slave to Potiphar, Pharaoh Ahmose I's captain of the guard. The overseer Ednan torments Joseph for his refusal to show deference, but Joseph earns his respect by reading, and Ednan increasingly relies on Joseph. Potiphar's wife unsuccessfully tries to seduce Joseph, and falsely accuses him of rape. Joseph explains his life story to Potiphar to restore trust.

Joseph is the second youngest son of Jacob and Rachel; the latter having died after giving birth to Benjamin. One day, Jacob gives Joseph a beautiful coat and makes him his successor; feeling he's more trustworthy than Simeon and Levi who'd endangered the tribe by sacking Shechem after their prince raped their sister Dinah, as well as Reuben who'd committed adultery with Leah's handmaiden Bilhah. Enraged by this and blinded by jealousy, Joseph's half-brothers dump him into a lot of snakes and sell him into slavery; except for Reuben who tried to save him.

Potiphar announces that Joseph will go to Pharaoh's prison for humiliating his wife. In prison, Joseph earns a reputation as a talented interpreter of dreams. He makes two accurate interpretations of the dreams of the royal cupbearer and the royal baker, both imprisoned on suspicion of theft.

Pharaoh summons Joseph to interpret his own troubling dreams. Joseph says the seven fat cows and the seven full ears of corn in the dream mean there will be seven years of plenty, but the seven sickly cows and the seven thin ears of corn signify seven years of severe famine caused by a drought. Joseph suggests that all the farmers give one-fifth of their crops to Pharaoh for storage for the coming famine. Impressed, Pharaoh appoints Joseph as governor, second only to Pharaoh; he also gives Joseph a wife, Asenath. Potiphar and Ednan now serve under Joseph.

Seven years later, the famine began. Joseph and Asenath have two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. In Canaan, Jacob learns of the abundance in Egypt and sends most of his sons to buy grain. Joseph recognizes his brothers, accuses them of spying, and throws them into prison; where Reuben declares his belief they're being divinely punished for betraying their family. Joseph insists they prove their innocence by bringing the youngest brother Benjamin to Egypt.

After the brothers bring Benjamin, he is framed for theft and arrested. When they rise up against their guards, Joseph reveals his true identity to all of them. Benjamin immediately embraces Joseph, but the others are ashamed. Joseph embraces each one in turn, saying that God used their evil intentions for the ultimate good, preparing Joseph for his current position so that he can provide for his extended family.

Joseph sends his brothers home to bring Jacob and the entire settlement to Egypt during the remaining five years of the famine. The clan arrives in Egypt to be reunited with Joseph.

Cast

Crew

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
1995
CableACE Awards Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Ben Kingsley Nominated [1]
Art Direction in a Dramatic Special or Series/Movie or MiniseriesPaolo Biagetti and Enrico Sabbatini Nominated
Costume DesignEnrico SabbatiniNominated
Original Score Marco Frisina Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Gerald Rafshoon, Lorenzo Minoli, and Laura FattoriWon [2]
[3]
[4]
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Ben KingsleyNominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special Enrico Sabbatini and Paolo Biagetti (for "Part 1")Nominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Casting Jeremy Zimmermann and Shaila RubinNominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Miniseries or a Special G. Michael Graham, Joe Melody, Kristi Johns,
Tim Terusa, David C. Eichhorn, Anton Holden,
Rusty Tinsley, Rick Crampton, Mark Steele,
John K. Adams, Bob Costanza, Mike Dickeson,
Darren Wright, Gary Macheel, Richard S. Steele,
Bill Bell, Tim Chilton, and Jill Schachne (for "Part 1")
Nominated
1996
Writers Guild of America Awards Adapted Long Form Lionel Chetwynd Nominated [5]

See also

References

  1. Margulies, Lee (September 20, 1995). "HBO Leads the Pack With 89 CableACE Nominations: Television: Nods for 'Larry Sanders,' 'Dream On' push network ahead of Showtime, which garners 36". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  2. "Joseph". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  3. "1995 Emmy Award Winners". The New York Times . September 12, 1995. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  4. "Emmy Award Nominations 1995 : Nighttime Nominees: A Complete Rundown". Los Angeles Times . July 21, 1995. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  5. "Awards Winners". Writers Guild of America Awards. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2010.