Oh, For Art's Sake! (The Passion)

Anna Zetchus Raetz

[AnnaZ]

 

 

Oh, For Art's Sake!

Anna Zetchus Raetz, Los Angeles

 

 

 

Somewhere in the midst of all of the hype that preceded the Passion's highly (or warily) anticipated opening, the subject of the debate was lost, and, sadly, no one noticed.

 

To its detractors, the first stage was pre-emptive, sprung whilst the film was still being shot. It was dismissed as too inaccessible -- dead languages, an uncomfortable-to-the-point-of-gruesome focus, dogmatic. Distributors balked.

 

Once distribution was guaranteed regardless, the spectre of Anti-Semitism was the next attempted, still attempting, dissuader. Is Mel a Holocaust Denier? "Who killed Jesus"? Blood libel! Is the script too literal or too mythical? Are the roots not too Biblical, but really the rantings of a Jew-hating hallucinogenic nun?

 

Lots of seemingly normal people still planned to see it.

 

Thus, stage three was the launching, still flying, of the "too violent"-"gory"-"barbaric"-"fetishistic" assault, unsuccessfully disguised as public service. This, frankly, was the more amusing of the accusations if only for the sheer audacity of its hypocrisy, considering the sources from whence these slams derived. (The only thing more naked was the New York Times' article regarding studio heads' plans to boycott Gibson forthwith, a shockingly unspun outburst.)

 

Still, people went and saw it, I among them, and Passion of the Christ had the biggest opening of an R-rated film. Ever. By a mile.

 

But due to the cacophony from both sides I now realize that I will not have seen it until I see it a second time, without their words ringing in my ears. And I strongly recommend the same to all.

 

As I exited the theatre after seeing it opening night, I was suffused with love for my fellow man and resolute in my philosophy that there is nothing of greater import than one's relationship with God, with one's Creator, and that, at the end of the day, it's between the individual and Jesus.

 

Here, the film said to me, here is this gift, do you accept it? And if you choose to accept the story just depicted then the only acceptable response to it, indeed the demand of it, is love. Accept it and arise, new, redeemed, golden, victorious. Decline and one's fate is that of the maggot-ridden ass, of Legion, dust and howls and bones. And all this demonstrated with very, very few words.

 

As I walked with friends and family down the street a sad anger aimed at the detractors began to build inside, an anger certain, though dulled by the depth of the experience.

 

Too narrow? It is the directive of the director's faith. Anti-Semitic? Almost every protagonist is Jewish. Too violent? Not, unfortunately, compared to reality. Too not what you'd prefer it would be? It is one artist's vision.

 

Too beautiful! The colors, the poses, the lighting, the emotion. A film -- neither agitprop nor absolution, but rather a moving tableau illustrating God's love for man, created by a man who loves God in return, with a dying world in between. Within the confines of Gibson's understanding he has touched the depths of that question that lives within us, that is answered daily in the complex and the banal, in the choices of the moment that craft the theme of a lifetime.

 

For this aspect, and this alone, some will love it and some will hate it and some will weep and some will be stunned and it needs to be seen again on its own worthy merits, for what it is, unperverted by the prism of anyone but one's self.

 

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.

    1st Corinthians 2:14

 

 

 

See it in the Spirit, see it in the flesh, but for a moment at least see it simply as art. Where is the discussion of the lighting, the performances, the camera work, the music, the vision? Mel Gibson's Passion of The Christ may very well be, so far, the 21st Century's Sistine Chapel, but the viewers will need to look up to see it. To be finally appreciated as such, The Passion will need to survive the boxes that people on both sides keep attempting to put it into. And thus has it always been for real, actual, art -- with the pious and the fashionistas, down the road, trying to convince all that they were there in the beginning.

 

For at the end of the day, this is art -- meditative, redemptive, devotional, powerful art -- because that was the gift of the director. The film is less a series of scenes and more a literally and figuratively moving mural of, objectively, an incredible story. It doesn't try to be a documentary, for which one should be grateful.

 

This week has been tough in Hollywood with the Oscars overshadowed by, of all things, a film that exalts the Lamb of God. The American Film Market is also currently in town, and the self-promoting and self-congratulating is reaching crescendo.

 

After seeing the movie a few of us went around the corner for a drink, to relax, ruminate. A man was hosting a party for himself -- posters for his movie all around, the flick itself projected onto the walls, postcard-sized headshots that read "For your consideration for work"...

 

After what we had just experienced it was a garish surreality. We chose to step back outside lest the resonance of the beauty we had experienced slip out of our grips as well.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dust in the Wind]

"But I don't think it was my "imagination"

I understand you.

Does inspiration come to many people but only a few can put it in words, or into stone or even onto canvess or celluloid in ways that leave the rest of us practically speechless?

[Eaker]

I just watched the Passion with my wife.

I got in the car before I remembered that I smoke.....................

.

[eleni121]

Thank you for the beautiful homage to this beloved film. I just returned from seeing it and its beauty and love I find overwhelming.

[wardaddy]

We have tickets for tommorow at 2:00PM in Murfreesboro TN (a bedroom community 30 miles SE outside Nashville where my mom lives and where she will watch the children).

It should be noted that all of the shows today on 3 screens at the Carmike multiplex were sold out as well as all evening shows till March 9th and all weekend showing thru next weekend. Basically only some matinees were open for the next week and a half.

Murfreesboro is the hub of Rutherford county with a city population of around 70K and countywide population of around 200k and is one of 7 counties comprising metro Nashville.

[Eaker]

The Passion.

Where to start?

The hype and reviews would have swayed me in a normal movie.  I forgot about all of it as I watched.  I forgot that I was a husband, father, friend, and FReeper.  I slipped quietly into the movie.  Only occasionally did I really remember that it was indeed a movie.  Quite a few idiots brought children from baby to teen, but there was just barely a peep from them.  Bringing children is just stupid, but bringing mature teens is acceptable as long as they understand the story, know who the players are and have a grasp that Jesus died for us.  For our sins.

I never thought about a drink or popcorn, which is understandable considering the gravity of the material.  However, after getting into the car when the movie was over I realized that I never once thought about a cigarette.  I have been a smoker for 32 years.  Smokers will understand.

To the movie.

The cinematography was unbelievable.  There were no gaps, only a few breathing breaks that came in handy.  One could breath during the flashback scenes for the most part, but during the movie breathing was an option.

I felt as if I was walking in the crowd during some of the scenes, and not during other scenes.  I really had to think about why, then being a FReeper kicked in. When I felt part of the crowd I was a rank and file person amongst fellow workers.  Craftsmen, blacksmiths, accountants, buyers and the like.  When I was not part of the crowd it was during the day when I would have been at work.  It was the motley mob of lackeys that we conservatives rail against.  The very people who don't work and want higher taxes.  They cheered every time the Jewish High Council call for crucifixion.  They actually chanted the word in response to their corrupt leaders.  They could show up at 9:00am on Tuesday morning.  I and all of my friends would have been at work.

Satan walked among them ........ every time.  Satan and that damned baby, or the baby of the damned.  I have to work on that one as I am really woefully ignorant of the Bible and need to make sure that I am not walking with Satan on occasion.

The Romans were a different story.  I could see the difference in rank by attitude.  The ones who took great relish in beating Jesus were the scummy conscribes, kicked out of better units, stationed in "hell" and without a prayer of a better life.  They were not your average producing, 401k saving, want to retire someday Roman.  They were the dregs.  The Romans on horseback rolled their eyes and I could see them chanting the same mantra that I chanted throughout most of the movie.  Quit hitting him.  For your souls sake quit hitting him.

Pilate was a middle manager in a crappy job in "hell".  Normally he would have been there for two years and gone back to Rome with a cushy job.  He had been there for eleven years and on top of that Caesar was ticked at him.  "One more uprising and the blood is yours" is what Caesar had told him.  

He was between a rock and a hard place.  That is a funny saying and many of us use it.  We never discuss what it means.  He didn't have any options.  There was going to be an uprising either way.  He had Jesus beaten 98% to death to save Jesus' life and that wasn't good enough.  I am not trying to make Pilate out as a good man as he would not have been in this position if he was a good man.  He was stuck.  He did have a good wife as she felt the Mother's pain and brought her cloths.  It is a shame that you could see the yellow streak up her back when she turned and ran from what could have been a gracious act.

I never felt like a father.  There was no place for me to be a father.  I was a friend to the Mother.  I couldn't project me as a father to Jesus.  I hurt for Jesus, but knowing Jesus' power and grace I could not put myself in that place.

The subtitles were not a problem.  No problem at all.  I actually picked up on some words and phrases and could skip reading some of the subtitles.  Other times the character could only say one thing.  I didn't have to read those.  When the guards were beating Jesus subtitles were neither used nor required.  I could fill in the blanks and that kind of sickened me, about me.

The movie's score was masterful.  It never interfered and only occasionally became part of the experience.  When it presented itself I always knew that the Calvary was coming.  It didn't.  It never did.  I knew it couldn't, but so wanted to see some of our favorite Hollywood heroes come over the hill and righteously kick some butt.  I and my friends and my FRiends would have done some stomping.

We all know that it wasn't our place.  Jesus could have stopped the proceedings at any time.  He could have called upon our Father to bring in 20 legions of Angels at ANY time.  They were close, weeping and ready.  He couldn't as that would not have cleansed our sins.

That is my take, right or wrong and sorry to be so long winded.

[fabian]

good article...It was such a realistic portrayal of Christ's sacrifice.I thought that the dialogue in their own language gave it more realism.

[Squantos]

Mr Eaker you have missed your calling ...........very good.

Stay safe !

[olliemb]

Well Said!!!

[Humidston]

Thanks FRiend. I haven't been yet and am really anxious to see it for myself. I remember years ago, seeing a medical explanation for what Christ went through and it was staggering. I wish I had copied it.

You've given me a good description.

[thackney]

That is my take, right or wrong and sorry to be so long winded.

Thank you.

BUMP

[hellinahandcart]

Where is the discussion of the lighting, the performances, the camera work, the music, the vision?

Thank you. I was just saying, on another thread, that I have never seen so many movie reviews that mentioned *none* of those things. Until now.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Best thing you've ever written Tom.

God Bless

[Taliesan]

And if you choose to accept the story just depicted then the only acceptable response to it, indeed the demand of it, is love.

By now millions have testified that this was their reaction. Yet, William Safire just told us that the only response to the film is vengeance.

Who is blind?

[humblegunner]

Thanks for sharing that, brother.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Thank you

[Outraged]

Okay, okay, okay...Geez, I will see it a THIRD time for God's sake (the pun intended)...)

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!!!

[The_Eaglet]

Thanks for the flag and analysis!

[Eaker]

Ping to post #105

[RightWingMama]

Beautiful article.

[kidd]

Interesting that you mention "all the senses".

My wife thought that the music in the movie was excellent.

Hers was the first comment that I've heard/read on the score.