Saint Mary (film)

Saint Mary
DVD release cover
Directed by	Shahriar Bahrani
Produced by	Mohsen Aliakbari
Written by	Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpoor
Story by	Qur'an
Based on	Mary mother of Jesus
Starring	Parviz Hosseini, Mohammad Kasebi, Hossein Yaari
Music by	Majid Entezami
Cinematography	Hasan Pouya
Edited by	Shahriar Bohrani
Distributed by	Sima Film WN Media
Release date	1997
Running time	114 minutes
Country	Iran
Language	Persian

Saint Mary (Persian: مریم مقدس‎‎, also Maryam al-Muqaddasah, Maryam Moghaddas, Maryam Adhraa Maryam Al-Muqadasa; "The Honourable/Blessed Saint Mary") is a 1997 Iranian film by director Shahriar Bahrani, depicting the life of Mary mother of Jesus based on the Quran and Islamic tradition.

In the year 16 BCE, the people of Jerusalem are awaiting the birth of the son of Imran. Instead of the much-anticipated "Messiah", a girl is born to Imran and Anna. The latter names her Mary, which means "Servant of God". At the age of six, Mary is presented at the Temple, and remains there under the protection of the priest Zechariah until she turns sixteen.

While in seclusion, Mary spends all of her time in labour and prayers, and is harassed by the Jewish priests. She achieves such holiness that the angel Gabriel appears to her, foretelling that she will bear a holy man. She later gives birth to Jesus.

The film bases the story of the life of Saint Mary and the birth of Jesus- a prophet in Islamic tradition on classical sources such as Chapter 19 of the Qur'an. Along with the character of Saint Mary, this film also featured the righteous character of the Prophet Zakariya, who in Islam was the guardian of Saint Mary.