Mel Gibson Religion
Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of the Christ’ differs from other movies that have been made on the life of Jesus in that this movie depicts just the last twelve hours of Christ – the hours that Jesus foresaw. The subsequent betrayal by one of his disciples and the torture that followed are captured in vivid detail. The title is based on what early Christians traditionally called the Ordeal – The Passion of the Christ. This passion is the supreme sacrifice that forms the tenet of the Christian faith.
Mel Gibson’s movie ‘The Passion of the Christ’ has come in for bouquets and brickbats. Evangelical Christians have been all praise for it whereas the Jews argue that it has Anti-Semetic overtones. Read on to find out why the movie is so controversial.
Movie: The Passion of Christ
By the end of March 28th 2004, ‘The Passion of the Christ’ had sold $ 315 million in tickets in the U.S. This places it 13th on the all-time blockbuster list. Public debate is centered round Gibson’s handling of the role that Jews played in the last hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Extreme brutality is displayed in the scenes leading from the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane to the removal of his body from the cross.
The film is based on the collective account found in the four New Testament Gospels. The movie is based on the theological interpretation that the ‘unbelieving Jews’ were responsible for the death of Christ. ‘The Passion of the Christ’ recounts the circumstances of the trial of Jesus, beginning from the Jewish leaders who hated Jesus to his declaration of innocence by Pilate. The movie opens in a misty grotto with soft chants in the background. The beauty of Jerusalem’s courtyards and archways has been brought to life. James Caviezel in his portrayal of Christ is shown to be praying after sitting at the Last Supper. Betrayed by Judas Iscariot, he is then arrested and taken to Jerusalem where he is accused of blasphemy by the leaders of the Pharisees and condemned to death. The movie is subtitled in English since the Jews speak in Aramaic and the Romans speak in Latin.
The Passion of the Christ Controversy
The Jewish Temple has been presented as a locus of evil with Jesus being physically abused before a violent mob of Jews. This presents a negative view of Judaism and the Jewish people. The portrayals of the scourging and crushing of Christ seem to be fixated on the treachery and agony rather than focusing on the message of love that Jesus wanted to spreads. Gibson is accused of having selectively used violent incidents to emphasize the Jewish responsibility for the death of Jesus and playing down the role of the Romans in the same. The movie seems to justify the persecution of the Jews. The Crucifixion is powerfully dramatized with particular emphasis on the arms being pulled out of sockets and huge nails being hammered into hands. There are fears of the social fallout of this movie.
Mel Gibson’s religion and personal beliefs have come to bear largely on the movie. Coming from a family of Roman Catholic Traditionalists, he is a practicing Catholic who does not believe in the second Vatican Council. Gibson has defended the violence in the film as being depictive of its historical realism and biblical accuracy. The film has been lauded as a moving experience that has reaffirmed their faith in the teachings of Christ.
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