Posted on 06/26/2003 7:02:56 PM PDT by Polycarp
I SAW THE PASSION
Barbara Nicolosi
6/26/03
So I was at a private screening at Icon Productions yesterday, and got to see a rough cut of The Passion. There were about twelve people in the room, including Mel Gibson, his producing partner Steve and four or five other Icon staffers. After the screening, we talked to Mel and friends for about an hour. (As cool as that was, the quality of the film was such that the celebrity stuff was completely gone from the moment. I can't explain it really, except that it would be like standing in the Sistine Chapel next to, well, someone like Mel Gibson. Great art is a great leveler....) The rough cut we saw obviously didn't have the final score or special effects, and there were many more sub-titles than they will have in the finished film.
So, here's my take...
The Passion is a stunning work of art. It is a devout, act of worship from Mel and his collaborators - in the way that Handel's Messiah and Notre Dame were artistic acts of worship in previous times.
Let's get the controversy out of the way right at the top. The film is faithful to the Gospel, particularly St. John. It is no more anti-Semitic than is the Gospel. There are at least two members of the Sanhedrin who come forward to protest on Jesus' behalf during the sham trial. The Romans are just as guilty of cruelty and hatred against Jesus in the film. And best of all is a final look right into the camera of Mary, holding her dead Son. She is looking at all of us with a kind of , "Look what you've done"/This is for you" expression. A cinematic Pieta worthy of Michelangelo.
Having seen the film now, I can only marvel that the attacks are pretty much demonic. Hopefully, the devil will end up spitefully biting his own tail on this one-- as he does in The Passion by inciting on the executioners of Christ, and thus being complicit in his own ultimate defeat. The Passion is high art. It is the greatest movie about Jesus ever made. In the discussion following the film, Mel and co. were asking us how mainstream theater audiences would react to the film. I told them, "Who cares? What you have here is so much more than just a product to sell. It will live forever, regardless of whether it is a commercial success for you or not."
For those of us who love Jesus, The Passion is devastating to watch. It is so good, I almost couldn't stand it. There is one moment on the way of the cross sequence, in which the whole tragedy unfolding devolves into a vicious riot of hatred between Romans and Jews with the Savior on the ground in the middle of it getting it from both sides. It was so frenzied and terrible, I wanted to run from the room. But then, the film again finds Mary, Jesus's Mother on the sidelines, and her presence gets us through it. Kind of like how Mary's presence helped Jesus get through it, it seemed to me.
The film is lovingly Marian. Mary is perfectly portrayed here. She is contrasted repeatedly with the really super creepy Satan character, who is also a woman (something for the feminist theologians here? heh heh...).
The film is strongly Eucharistic. There is a beautiful juxtaposition of images that cuts from the stripping on Calvary to the unwrapping of the bread to be used at the last Supper. Fabulous stuff.
Every Christian needs to see this film at least once. Just to remember, in our current comfort zones while evil is closing in, the price that was paid for us. On my way home from the screening, I found myself praying in the car, "Jesus, I'm so sorry, I forgot..." How many films have led you to compunction lately? The Passion is a miracle.
I just got a chill of goosebumps reading her description of this preview.
Not just from envy (sitting in the dark with Mel Gibson watching his "passionate" masterpiece of a film), but the awe that seemed to run through her as she watched the events unfold before her eyes (and forgetting all about Gibson....that alone, to most of us ladies, speaks volumes!).
I just received Sr. Anne Catherine Emmerick's book today, I am definitely going to read and study up on her writings of The Delorous Passion.
A true work of art, yes. And when the score comes out and is dubbed in, and the final edit is presented...this is going to be one spectacular, and memorable movie of all time.
Almost singlehandedly it seems sometimes ----and who would have thought that such a man could come out of Hollywood. Come to think of it ---that's where Reagan came out of ---there is hope for the world!
World Magazine had a list last week here:
http://www.worldmag.com/world/issue/06-28-03/
Marvin Olasky writes for World. Some very good resources there.
I think it's about time for all people of faith - whether they are one kind of Christian or another, faithful Jews and Hindus - monotheists of all kinds - to realize that there is one enemy. Not people who worship the Supreme Lord in another kind of building, or on another day, or with somewhat different rituals, or those who call Him by different names.
The enemy is those who hate the very thought of the Supreme Being, who envy His supremacy, who hate the 10 Commandments, who hate morality, who hate the eternal soul. Then, after they are defeated, we can have theological debates.
Hi Robby,
In the EWTN interview, Gibson said he had to "keep it at around 90 minutes." He was refering to the visual intensity of the film, and said "any more than that would make you crazy."
Give it a break.
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
Agree there. That'll be the only way, through Jesus.
But if I do get to heaven, I'd rather stand in front of Him, and gain His favor by Him knowing that I have paid honor to His mother, instead of disdaining her.
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