The Last Temptation of Christ is a drama directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Willem Dafoe. Based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, the film presents a humanized portrayal of Jesus, focusing on his internal struggles, doubts and temptations. Set in biblical times, it explores faith, sacrifice and the conflict between spiritual destiny and human desire. Criterion Collection The Last Temptation of Christ, by Martin Scorsese, is a towering achievement. Though it initially engendered enormous controversy, the film can now be viewed as the remarkable, profoundly personal work of faith that it is. This fifteen-year labor of love, an adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakiss landmark novel that imagines an alternate fate for Jesus Christ, features outstanding performances by Willem Dafoe, Barbara Hershey, Harvey Keitel, Harry Dean Stanton, and David Bowie; bold cinematography by the great Michael Ballhaus; and a transcendent score by Peter Gabriel. Från IMDB: The life of Jesus Christ, his journey through life as he faces the struggles all humans do, and his final temptation on the cross.