SYNOPSIS
Mel Gibson produced this film in Sassi of Matera, as Pasolini did in 1964 with his Gospel According to St. Matthew. Even Richard Gere did his David here in 1985. It focuses on the 12 hours of Jesus' life leading to his crucifixion. Jesus speaks Latin and Aramaic without the aid of subtitles.
"Obviously, nobody wants to touch something filmed in two dead languages," Mel Gibson explained at a news conference Friday in the Sala Fellini at Cinecitta. "They think I'm crazy, and maybe I am. But maybe I'm a genius.
"I want to show the film without subtitles," he added. "Hopefully, I'll be able to transcend language barriers with visual storytelling. If I fail, I'll put subtitles on it, though I don't want to."
"The idea came to me 10 years ago and has been rambling around in my empty head, very slowly taking shape ever since," Gibson said. "I think this is a pretty timeless and timely story to tell, involving an area where there's turbulence now just as there was turbulence then because history repeats itself.
"I want to show the humanity of Christ as well as the divine aspect," he continued. "It's a rendering that for me is very realistic and as close as possible to what I perceive the truth to be."
MEL GIBSON
God works in strange ways. The Spirit of God moved on Mel’s heart to bring the passion of Christ to the big screen. Interestingly, Some of Mel's past films have a Christ-like feel to them. Christian screenwriter Randal Wallace, who wrote “BraveHeart” once referred to it as Jesus Christ in Kilts.
Few people are aware that Mel Gibson’s ICON production company brought the well done Claymation “Miracle Maker” Jesus to the TV screen.
ROCK THROWING RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE TO BLAME FOR THE ATTACK ON MEL GIBSON’S FILM
During the summer of 2003 a group of biblical scholars (so-called) associated with the U.S. Bishops Council obtained a stolen copy of an early draft of the script and came forward to denounce it as scripturally incorrect and potentially injurious of Christian-Jewish relations. Mr. Gibson protested, and the bishops more or less fled the scene, but the damage was done.
JUST AS WHIPPED JESUS WAS PUBLICLY WHIPPED, SO RELIGIOUS LEADERS "WHIPPED" MEL
BILLY GRAHAM
On Dec. 01 2003 Billy Graham came to the defense Gibson film on Christ, saying he was "moved to tears."
"The film is faithful to the Bible's teaching that we are all responsible for Jesus' death, because we all have sinned," the 85-year-old evangelist said. "It is our sins that caused his death, not any particular group."
Billy Graham also stated: "I doubt if there has been a more graphic and moving presentation of Jesus' death and resurrection, which Christians believe are the most important events in human history."
Hollywood has long recognized the importance of Billy Graham and included him in the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Time Magazine named Billy Graham as one of the top 100 Heroes of the Century.
POPE JOHN PAUL II
Dec 5, 2003. John Paul II, who even with the challenges of his current illness has more good sense than many of his cardinals, knew of the controversy surrounding Mr. Gibson's film, and wanted to see it. Producer Steve McEveety, who had flown to Rome uninvited to show the film to as many Vatican officials as he could, gave the DVD to Msgr. Dziwisz on Friday, Dec. 5, 2003. The monsignor and the pope watched it together. Mr. McEveety said of John Paul. "He's pretty well booked. But he really wanted to see it."
MEL GIBSON'S FILM AS GOD'S INSTRUMENT
As a matter of fact, we should not be surprised to learn that God is at work in pop culture. Consider these words of Celtic spiritual leader George McLeod:
"I simply argue that the Cross should be raised at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles; but on a cross between two thieves; on the towns’ garbage heap; at a crossroad, so cosmopolitan they had to write his title in Hebrew and Latin and Greek... at the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble. Because that is where He died. And that is what He died about. That is where church-men ought to be and what churchmen ought to be about."
The Passion of The Christ reminders us that God brings light to the darkness of the world. It reminds us of how God works within the garbage of our culture, and even within the garbage in our souls. To free us and make us whole.
Jesus said of his crucifixion on that garbage heap, "And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me." -John 12:32. With all the attention that Gibson's film is receiving one can see the truth of Jesus' words.
God is at work in the culture because everyone is precious to God. Everyone has value.
Review By MELINDA LEDMAN
HJMLedman@yahoo.com.
I made a concerted effort to avoid e-mails, television shows, and newscasts regarding this movie, The Passion of the Christ. I wanted my “experience,” as many have called it, to be unbiased. Now, I have to admit I was biased going into it. I expected an unrealistic and sensationalistic film with performances that would not be convincing. However, it was the media and not the movie that was overdone. I was surprisingly convinced and enthralled throughout the film. Having read my share of books on the scourging of Christ, I took a greater interest in the way that Christ interacted with people. What I saw was a personal Christ who spent a great deal of time protecting the people.
Mary Magdalene appears much like a saint the first time we see her. She wears respectable clothing and supports Jesus’ mother. Yet, when the film exposes her past, we see a harlot facing judgment under the law. Beyond her sinful appearance, the shame permeates her eyes. That shame compels Christ to act. He does not act according to the law (which required death at that time), but according to his nature which seeks to protect and redeem the shame-filled heart. He draws a line in the sand and the accusers leave. He extends a hand to Mary, protecting her from death.
Mary the Mother of Jesus is presented as a strong woman, but it seems to defy any mother’s natural ability to endure pain. A woman of few tears, she bears the injustice of her son’s death as if she knows that a greater work is at hand. In this film, Jesus’ words on the road to Calvary remind her of his calling, and inspire hope in her fragile mother’s heart. I wondered at several points how she could endure such pain. Without saying so, the movie implies that Jesus spent a lifetime preparing her for what must eventually transpire. His message of hope protected her from the despair of appearances. His suffering was great, but his cause was greater.
Pontias Pilate, a man who refuses to hear truth, also receives protection from Jesus. Pontias Pilate questions Christ, hoping to be absolved of his requirement to deal justly with an innocent man. Pilate fears that Caesar will kill him if his refusal to condemn Christ results in a Jewish uprising. Jesus responds, “You have no power over me except what is given to you from the Father.” Jesus’ words imply that death is inevitable. In speaking these words, Jesus does not hold Pilate to a standard of justice. Instead, he chooses to protect the unbelieving governor by endorsing his own death sentence.
The Apostle Peter denies Christ amid a frenzied mob of angry people. The people want blood, and Peter is afraid he will endure the same torture and death as Christ. Jesus does not call him out during this mob scene. It would be easy for anyone to be angry and scream, “Yes, you are a follower of mine! I’ve spent months and years with you, and you pledged your allegiance unto death to me just last night!” But Jesus remains silent. He protects Peter from the crowd with his silence. Only his eyes convey a message, one that he had given Peter the night before, a message of courage and perseverance.
Simon of Cyrene, the man who helps carry the cross, also experiences Christ’s protection. At first, Simon tries to avoid the task because he fears being beaten along with Christ. Why wouldn’t the whips fall on his shoulder or the pieces of glass catch his leg? The soldiers do not hesitate to beat Christ when he is down. Simon responds in fear. Christ responds in love. Simon eventually makes a stand for Jesus and protects him from the guards, or so he thinks. He picks up the cross and carries the majority of the weight. However, the last moment of the scene shows Christ laying his arm over Simon’s arm just as the whip comes down. Again, Christ displays his great love and protects a man from what he fears most.
The Thief on the Cross seems to be Christ’s crowning joy throughout the movie. Simon of Cyrene tells Jesus, “It’s almost finished” as they approach the hill of Calvary. When Jesus arrives, more pain awaits him and he is nailed to the cross. But, when they lift the cross, he encounters the prize. The words of the believing thief infuse joy into Christ’s suffering eyes. It is as if Christ’s purpose is made complete in that moment—that moment when one person believes. He replies with great satisfaction, “This day, you will be with me in Paradise.” It strikes me that while man fears death, Christ celebrates it. Death is the place where God makes mankind whole, free from lingering sin and condemnation. It is where we can be protected from all hatred, all evil and all accusations of our unworthiness. This is the prize of Christ!
Melinda Ledman is a graduate of Baylor University with a Bachelor’s degree in English. During college, she worked on the film Letter From Waco (director Don Howard), which won the award for best documentary feature in the 1997 South by Southwest Film Festival. After she and her husband Rob had their first child in September 2002, she began free-lance writing full time. In addition to writing reviews, she most enjoys writing original screenplays. She gratefully serves God after 12 years of alcoholism, and appreciates grace and freedom on a whole new level.
