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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Meet Mary and Joseph in the Christmas musical 'Journey to Bethlehem' showing exclusively in SM Cinemas Dec. 6

Meet Mary and Joseph in the Christmas musical 'Journey to Bethlehem' showing exclusively in SM Cinemas Dec. 6

Published Dec 5, 2023 03:07 am

At A Glance

  • The film, which weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in retelling the greatest story ever told, will be shown exclusively in SM Cinemas starting Dec. 6, just in time for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Journey to Bethlehem_Fiona Palomo, Milo Manheim 2.jpg
'Journey to Bethlehem' stars Fiona Palomo and Milo Manheim (Images courtesy of Columbia Pictures)

This Christmas season, sing along to the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus with Journey to Bethlehem, a live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family that stars Fiona Palomo, Milo Manheim, and Antonio Banderas as King Herod. 

The film, which weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in retelling the greatest story ever told, will be shown exclusively in SM Cinemas starting Dec. 6, just in time for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 

The huge responsibility that comes with playing the earthly parents of Jesus is not lost on the actors who play them in the film. “I feel like for Mary it’s probably a much deeper weight,” says Manheim, who plays Joseph, about the character of Mary. “But, you know, Mary is obviously carrying the child of God.” 

“It’s a huge responsibility,” agrees Palomo, who plays the all-important role of Mary. “But we will see through the movie that she couldn’t have done it without Joseph.” 

Journey to Bethlehem_Antonio Banderas.jpg
Antonio Banderas

Their respective characters aren’t the only things Palomo and Manheim love about the movie. They’re singing praises of the film’s music too! 

“The thing that I love about this so much is that it’s such an ancient story, but all the music is so modern,” says Manheim. “It feels like two things that wouldn’t really go together, but we’re creating a movie that I absolutely would watch, and I know that I would love – and the music is incredible.”   

Adds Palomo, “It’s a beautiful balance between just very grounded real human problems and purposes and barriers and everything, and just performance and theater and color – it’s perfect.”

“Finding the right Mary and Joseph was, of course, key,” says Richard Peluso, head of Affirm Films, a Christian film studio owned by Sony Pictures. “I had already been teed up by Adam [Anders, director] and the producer saying that they really like these two actors, and when I finished watching all the tapes, I came back to them and said, ‘You guys are spot on – It is Fiona, and it is Milo. They are Mary and Joseph.” 

Journey to Bethlehem, also starring Academy Award® nominee Antonio Banderas as King Herod, is showing exclusively in SM cinemas starting December 6. Don’t miss this must-see, feel-good film this holiday season.

 

Journey to Bethlehem_Fiona Palomo, Milo Manheim.jpg

About 'Journey to Bethlehem'

A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man is torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told – the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it. 

Directed by Adam Anders, with a screenplay by Adam Anders & Peter Barsocchini. Produced by Brandt Andersen, Adam Anders, Ryan Busse, Stephen Meinen, Alan Powell, Steve Barnett

Fiona Palomo, who plays Mary, and Milo Manheim, who plays Joseph, are joined by Omid Djalili, Rizwan Manji, Geno Segers, MŌRIAH, Joel Smallbone, Lecrae, Stephanie Gil, and Academy Award® nominee Antonio Banderas. 

Showing exclusively in SM Cinemas starting December 6, Journey to Bethlehem is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #JourneytoBethlehem and tag @columbiapicph

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