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 can't believe that the movie would end at that point. (I don't believe any movie has ever stopped at the crucifixion...)
Our faith wouldn't allow it.
This movie continues to build as it goes along.
You noticed that the author was able to delve into details of the movie without needing to listen to the text.
A true testament of the strength of the movie.
I've got just the shirt for it! *Grins*
Do Not buy a large drink before seeing this masterpiece! (You know what happened last time!!!)
I imagine the soundtrack will be just as moving.
That's one nasty, repugnant, and unfair generalization there, friend.
You mean... gulping for air... I can harldy breathe...the world is spinning... it isn't Hillary's book? *Grins*
Kudos to you on this Friday morning.
The Life of Brian... I break into laughter just thinking about that one!
Oh, and when was the last time most catholics read their bible - take the log out your own eye before taking the sliver out of mine (paraphrased)
And, NO mention of the language issue. Now THAT's news!
As I understand it, neither is Mel, at least not the current church hierarchy. He particularly rejects the PC revisionism of Vatican 2. I don't know alot about the particulars of Vatican 2, just the surface things like no more latin mass and fish on Friday isn't required anymore. I understand that there's a lot more substantive theological disruption to what traditionalists feel was the core of being a Catholic. It's hard to get a good grip on things like this. The Vatican (particularly the Jesuits) invented spin. Doesn't make them good or bad, just makes it hard to ferret out the different pieces of what's really going on.
As a completely seperate thought, wouldn't you love to roam freely through the Vatican, particularly the libraries (with the appropriate translators) and just see what there really is to see there?
It would be fascinating to see.
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