Genesis: The Creation and the Flood
A 1994 TV film using Bedouin cast to tell Genesis.
In 1994, Italian director Ermanno Olmi made a television film shot in Morocco, titled *Genesis: The Creation and the Flood* (also released in Australia as *The Bible: Genesis*). The movie draws from the Book of Genesis, the Hebrew Bible’s first book, and depicts the world’s creation and the Great Flood. Its cast consists of native Bedouins, and the text of Genesis is delivered by a narrator who sometimes appears as an elderly desert nomad recounting the story to his extended Bedouin family.
The plot begins with the planet’s creation, told by an old desert shepherd to his young, curious grandson. The old man also describes Adam and Eve, their temptation by a snake, their transgression, and their permanent expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The story then covers humanity’s first crime: Cain murdering his brother Abel. The genealogies of Cain and Seth are included. Because mankind’s corruption becomes great on Earth, God regrets making humans, but finds a righteous man named Noah. Noah and his family obediently build an ark to protect themselves and the animals from a flood that will wash away wickedness. These events are narrated in the clear, simple words of an old nomad shepherd.
To illustrate some Old Testament pronouncements about human evils, the film uses modern clips of warfare and destruction. The script follows the first nine chapters of Genesis fairly accurately, with a few added portions, such as excerpts from the Song of Songs, Leviticus 26, and Psalm 50.
The cast includes Omero Antonutti (voiced in English by Paul Scofield) as the old narrator and Noah, Sabir Aziz as Adam, Haddou Zoubida as Eve, Annabi Abdelialil as Cain, and B. Haddan Mohammed as Abel.
- year
- 1994
- director
- Ermanno Olmi
- country
- Italy
- medium
- Television film
- based_on
- Book of Genesis (Hebrew Bible)
- filming_location
- Morocco
- narrator_voice_english
- Paul Scofield
Lore & Background
The film begins with the creation of the planet, narrated by an old desert shepherd whose grandson is young and curious. The old man recounts the story of Adam and Eve, their temptation by a snake, and their banishment from the Garden of Eden. It continues with Cain murdering his brother Abel, the genealogies of Cain and Seth, and the corruption of mankind that leads God to regret making humans. Noah and his family obediently build an ark to survive a flood that washes away wickedness.
Reader's Guide
The film's significance lies in its unique approach to biblical storytelling: using a cast of native Bedouins and framing the narrative through an elderly nomad speaking to his family. Modern clips of warfare and destruction illustrate Old Testament pronouncements about human evils, blending ancient text with contemporary imagery. The script follows the first nine chapters of Genesis fairly accurately, with added excerpts from the Song of Songs, Leviticus 26, and Psalm 50. The film's legacy is as a distinctive, minimalist adaptation that emphasizes oral tradition and moral reflection.
Did You Know?
- The film was shot in Morocco.
- The cast consists of native Bedouins.
- The narrator appears as an elderly desert nomad telling the story to his extended Bedouin family.
- Modern clips of warfare and destruction are used to illustrate some Old Testament pronouncements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Genesis: The Creation and the Flood?
It is a 1994 Italian television film directed by Ermanno Olmi that adapts the opening chapters of the Book of Genesis, covering the creation of the world and the Great Flood. The movie was shot on location in Morocco and later released in Australia under the title The Bible: Genesis.
Who narrates and stars in Genesis: The Creation and the Flood?
The story is told by a narrator who appears on screen as an elderly desert nomad sharing the tale with his extended Bedouin family. Rather than using professional actors, Olmi cast native Bedouins to portray the biblical figures, giving the film a distinctly oral-tradition feel.
Where and when was Genesis: The Creation and the Flood made?
The film was produced in Italy in 1994 and filmed on location in Morocco. It was produced as a television movie rather than a theatrical feature.
What does the plot of Genesis: The Creation and the Flood cover?
The narrative begins with the creation of the planet, framed as an old desert shepherd recounting the events to his curious grandchildren, and continues through the story of the Great Flood. It follows the sequence presented in the first book of the Hebrew Bible.
What makes Genesis: The Creation and the Flood different from other biblical films?
Olmi's approach treats the Genesis text almost like a spoken Bedouin campfire story, with the narrator physically present and addressing his family. The use of non-professional, native Bedouin performers in Morocco gives the adaptation an intimate, documentary-like quality that sets it apart from Hollywood-style retellings.
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