If you strip away the myth from the man you will see where we all soon will be.
Today I broke down and decided I'd had enough of people making plans and then backing out (Though I know she had an excuse). I realized if I was going to see The Passion of the Christ, I would have to go alone. And since I already had time set aside today to see it, I traveled down to jolly Evanston to the 3:00 matinee.
Now, like everyone else, I heard a lot of criticism and praise for this film. From my roommate's Jewish boyfriend claiming it fostered Anti-Semitism to the priest a few Sundays ago telling the congregation to go see it, The Passion has been the buzz. (What's the Buzz? Tell me what's a happening. Ok. Last Jesus Christ Superstar reference. This is a serious post.) I entered the theatre with an open mind, not looking to back anyone else's point of view. I had been forewarned of the violence portrayed in the movie, and I thought I was prepared for anything. In the end, I don't think I have ever seen a more emotionally draining film.
First of all, the artistry of the film struck me. Mel Gibson made an excellent decision in presenting it in Aramaic; the dialect lent a certain sanctity to the film and made it seem less like a movie and more like I was peeking in on someone's private life 2000 and some years ago. As it progressed, I completely forgot the film was even in a different language. I appreciated how true to the Gospel The Passion was, and I found myself anticipating certain Bible passages I learned in childhood. The characterization impressed me as well, from the portrayal of Judas as a victim of his own mind to the inner conflict of Pilate, suffering as he sentenced a man he knew was innocent. It also pleased me Pilate's wife Claudia, so very important in the Gospel but so often overlooked in presentations of the Passion, was not excluded from this rendition. Most importantly, the choice to make Satan androgynous earns my praise; I spent most of the film trying to decide if the actor was a man or a woman and realizing it is not even important because Satan has no gender.
While sitting in the theatre, I quickly realized the wisdom of my decision to go alone. In being by myself in the theatre with no one I knew around me, I was not ashamed at the overflow of emotion I felt during certain scenes: the torture of Jesus, Mary's approach upon Jesus’ fall and her overall reaction to the whole situation, Veronica's washing of Jesus’ face, the crucifixion and subsequent lancing, and lastly, the Resurrection (It surprised me it was included). I felt probably more religious and connected to Jesus in that movie theatre than I have for the past several years sitting in church.
And I think that's what so important about this film. It is not a free-for-all of needless violence and dramatization. It is a depiction of the last three days of the Lord's life taken from scripture. My entire life I have heard the story of Holy Week and I have approached it with the same detachment as the majority of other Christians. Sure, it's a heart renching story, but we cannot relate. We have nothing to compare it to. It is merely a story we have heard since forever, an almost optimistic one--certainly in my mind it was far more clean and sunny than it really would have been. The Passion showed to me a more true vision of Jesus’ death than my mind as shown me, and as glad as I am for it, it almost saddens me.
Now, while in the theatre, I considered the Anti-Semitic feeling many have gotten from the film. If I did not possess a strong Biblical background, I probably would have thought something similar. If I were someone with limited contact to the story of the Passion, I would watch the movie and think, "Wow, those Jews probably don't believe Jesus is the Messiah just because they still don't want to admit they were wrong." With my religious training, I see the movie is presenting the beginning of the New Testament, not necessarily aimed toward any specific Christian group, but putting it on film for people to see what is believed to have happened from ancient literature. Sure, the Jewish people of the time were shown in a less than favorable light, but how many of us (Christians) would have believed Jesus was the Son of God were we in their position? And when you think about it, several religious groups had their low points in history (need I mention the Catholics and Aristotle?), and it is not that they were wrong, per se, they were just scared and set in their ways. In short, call it Anti-Semitic, but before you do, consider the context you are viewing the movie.
After viewing the film, several people have said they can not watch it ever again, but this thought perturbs me. It irks me that people can read the Bible or listen to the Gospel literally hundreds of times without a problem, yet once the story is made visual, it cannot be handled. It is the same story. Personally, viewing The Passion of Christ will probably make it onto my Lenten To Do List (you know, get ashes, don't eat meat on Friday's, listen to the JCS soundtrack, watch The Passion of the Christ). If this movie caused such a rise of emotion while watching it, maybe the story of Christ should be reconsidered, and spirituality should be questioned. I know I am pondering my own.
I do not deny some aspects of The Passion of the Christ can be argued as somewhat off from original scripture. To those who say it, I say at least this movie has people paying attention to their Bibles. To those who complain about the excessive violence, I say the Gospel is just as gruesome, and yet children are encouraged to learn it. And to those who spout off recycled rants they read on some website, I say maybe you should think about if this movie even affects you on a spiritual level, and if it doesn't, question why you are so concerned over it. In the end, if The Passion of the Christ makes you think, even if it is thinking to criticize, it has done its job.
Now, like everyone else, I heard a lot of criticism and praise for this film. From my roommate's Jewish boyfriend claiming it fostered Anti-Semitism to the priest a few Sundays ago telling the congregation to go see it, The Passion has been the buzz. (What's the Buzz? Tell me what's a happening. Ok. Last Jesus Christ Superstar reference. This is a serious post.) I entered the theatre with an open mind, not looking to back anyone else's point of view. I had been forewarned of the violence portrayed in the movie, and I thought I was prepared for anything. In the end, I don't think I have ever seen a more emotionally draining film.
First of all, the artistry of the film struck me. Mel Gibson made an excellent decision in presenting it in Aramaic; the dialect lent a certain sanctity to the film and made it seem less like a movie and more like I was peeking in on someone's private life 2000 and some years ago. As it progressed, I completely forgot the film was even in a different language. I appreciated how true to the Gospel The Passion was, and I found myself anticipating certain Bible passages I learned in childhood. The characterization impressed me as well, from the portrayal of Judas as a victim of his own mind to the inner conflict of Pilate, suffering as he sentenced a man he knew was innocent. It also pleased me Pilate's wife Claudia, so very important in the Gospel but so often overlooked in presentations of the Passion, was not excluded from this rendition. Most importantly, the choice to make Satan androgynous earns my praise; I spent most of the film trying to decide if the actor was a man or a woman and realizing it is not even important because Satan has no gender.
While sitting in the theatre, I quickly realized the wisdom of my decision to go alone. In being by myself in the theatre with no one I knew around me, I was not ashamed at the overflow of emotion I felt during certain scenes: the torture of Jesus, Mary's approach upon Jesus’ fall and her overall reaction to the whole situation, Veronica's washing of Jesus’ face, the crucifixion and subsequent lancing, and lastly, the Resurrection (It surprised me it was included). I felt probably more religious and connected to Jesus in that movie theatre than I have for the past several years sitting in church.
And I think that's what so important about this film. It is not a free-for-all of needless violence and dramatization. It is a depiction of the last three days of the Lord's life taken from scripture. My entire life I have heard the story of Holy Week and I have approached it with the same detachment as the majority of other Christians. Sure, it's a heart renching story, but we cannot relate. We have nothing to compare it to. It is merely a story we have heard since forever, an almost optimistic one--certainly in my mind it was far more clean and sunny than it really would have been. The Passion showed to me a more true vision of Jesus’ death than my mind as shown me, and as glad as I am for it, it almost saddens me.
Now, while in the theatre, I considered the Anti-Semitic feeling many have gotten from the film. If I did not possess a strong Biblical background, I probably would have thought something similar. If I were someone with limited contact to the story of the Passion, I would watch the movie and think, "Wow, those Jews probably don't believe Jesus is the Messiah just because they still don't want to admit they were wrong." With my religious training, I see the movie is presenting the beginning of the New Testament, not necessarily aimed toward any specific Christian group, but putting it on film for people to see what is believed to have happened from ancient literature. Sure, the Jewish people of the time were shown in a less than favorable light, but how many of us (Christians) would have believed Jesus was the Son of God were we in their position? And when you think about it, several religious groups had their low points in history (need I mention the Catholics and Aristotle?), and it is not that they were wrong, per se, they were just scared and set in their ways. In short, call it Anti-Semitic, but before you do, consider the context you are viewing the movie.
After viewing the film, several people have said they can not watch it ever again, but this thought perturbs me. It irks me that people can read the Bible or listen to the Gospel literally hundreds of times without a problem, yet once the story is made visual, it cannot be handled. It is the same story. Personally, viewing The Passion of Christ will probably make it onto my Lenten To Do List (you know, get ashes, don't eat meat on Friday's, listen to the JCS soundtrack, watch The Passion of the Christ). If this movie caused such a rise of emotion while watching it, maybe the story of Christ should be reconsidered, and spirituality should be questioned. I know I am pondering my own.
I do not deny some aspects of The Passion of the Christ can be argued as somewhat off from original scripture. To those who say it, I say at least this movie has people paying attention to their Bibles. To those who complain about the excessive violence, I say the Gospel is just as gruesome, and yet children are encouraged to learn it. And to those who spout off recycled rants they read on some website, I say maybe you should think about if this movie even affects you on a spiritual level, and if it doesn't, question why you are so concerned over it. In the end, if The Passion of the Christ makes you think, even if it is thinking to criticize, it has done its job.