Focus On 'The Nativity'

Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo and director Catherine Hardwicke pose together at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "The Nativity Story" held Nov. 28, 2006, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. The movie opens in the U.S. Dec. 1.

Actor Oscar Isaac poses for photographers at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "The Nativity Story" held Nov. 28, 2006, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. Isaac plays Joseph in the movie.

The movie also stars Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes, seen in this publicity photo released by New Line Cinema. Castle-Hughes is Mary in this drama that focuses on Mary and Joseph's life on their journey to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.

Director Catherine Hardwicke walks the red carpet at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "The Nativity Story" held Nov. 28, 2006, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. Hardwicke previously directed "Thirteen" and "The Lords of Dogtown."

Writer Randall Wallace, co-chairman of Habitat for Humanity, talks to actor Oscar Isaac at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "The Nativity Story" held Nov. 28, 2006, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. The Guiatamala-born actor has been seen mostly in television parts.

Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo arrives at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "The Nativity Story" held Nov. 28, 2006, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. The Iranian actress, who plays Elizabeth, was nominated for an Oscar for 2003's "House of Sand and Fog."

Actress Angie Harmon and her husband Jason Sehorn arrive at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "The Nativity Story" held Nov. 28, 2006, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Actors Gary Busey and Oscar Isaac talk at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "The Nativity Story" held Nov. 28, 2006, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Actor Mickey Rooney and his wife, Jan Rooney, pose together at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "The Nativity Story" held Nov. 28, 2006, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Actors Oscar Isaac, left, Shohreh Aghdashloo, center, and Shaun Toub pose together at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "The Nativity Story" held Nov. 28, 2006, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Isaac plays St. Joseph, Aghdashloo plays the mother of St. John the Baptist and Toub plays Mary's father Joaquim.

Three days before the premiere, Aghdashloo, left, Isaac, center, and Hardwicke were in Vatican City for a special screening of the movie Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006.

Actors Oscar Isaac, left, and Shohreh Aghdashloo pose for photographers during a press conference outside Vatican City to promote their latest movie "The Nativity Story" in Rome, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006.

Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo of Iran strikes a pose for photographers during a press conference outside Vatican City to promote "The Nativity Story" in Rome, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006.

Movie director Catherine Hardwicke poses for the photographers during a press conference outside Vatican City to promote her new movie "The Nativity Story" in Rome, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006.

Controversy dogged the movie in Chicago, where the nativity scene here is part of a Christmas festival. Worried that ads being shown on TV for "The Nativity Story" would offend non-Christians browsing in the traditional German Christkindlmarket in the heart of downtown, the city asked the German American Chamber of Commerce to reconsider the studio's sponsorship of the festival