4th February, 2004

DAVID ADAMS

It is as it was. And then it wasn’t.

Simon of Cyrene (Jarreth Merz) helps Jesus (Jim Caviezel) carry his cross. Photo credit: Philippe Antonello.

Well before it’s flickered onto cinema screens in Australia, Mel Gibson’s film on the life of Jesus - The Passion of the Christ - has been stirring up controversy across the globe.

First came the reports that the Pope had seen the film and endorsed it with the phrase: “It is as it was”. Now the Vatican reportedly says that while he has seen the movie, the Pope never said any such thing.

Then there’s the controversy it’s apparently stirred among some Jewish leaders who have voiced fears that the film could stir up anti-Semitic hatred.

In other quarters, it’s received nothing but praise with prominent Christians from across the United States invited to pre-release viewings and then lining up with words of encouragement. They say that far from being anti-Semitic, the film delivers a painstaking recreation of Christ’s death and puts the blame for his crucifixion firmly, as Dr Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral notes, “on the whole world”.

And all this before it’s even released.

Directed, produced and partly funded by Mel Gibson (he reportedly invested $25 million of his own funds), the movie’s storyline traces the story of the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life, opening in the Garden of Olives where Jesus has gone to pray after the Last Supper and showing the events leading up to his death on the cross.

Mary (Maia Morgenstern), left, and Mary Magdalene (Monica Bellucci), right. Photo credit: Philippe Antonello.

The screenplay, which was adapted by Gibson and Benedict Fitzgerald, represents a composite account of what Christians know as the Passion taken from the four gospels and was apparently written in consultation with pastors and Bible scholars.

Jim Caviezel (The Thin Red Line, Frequency and The Count of Monte Cristo among others) has been cast as Jesus with Maia Morgenstern as Mary and Monica Belluci as Mary Magdalene.

In an interview with the US-based Outreach Magazine, Gibson, a Catholic, said he wanted the movie to present a “message of faith, hope, love and forgiveness”.

The US-born but Australian-claimed Gibson told the magazine that making the film was the most difficult thing he had ever done. He said there had been numerous obstacles thrown in his way as it was made.

“It’s dangerous material,” he told the magazine. After all, he says, “This is big stuff you’re dealing with.”

According to the movie’s official website, Gibson had requested that the film - which was shot entirely in Italy - resemble the paintings of Italian Baroque artist Caravaggio, known for creating life within his pictures through clever use of light and darkness.

“I think his work is beautiful,” 47-year-old Gibson is recorded as saying. “It’s violent, it’s dark, it’s spiritual and it also has an odd whimsy of strangeness to it.”

There's also been talk of miracles with reports of healings on the film set and of those working on the film surviving lightning strikes.

The movie has been scheduled to open simultaneously in the United States and Australia on 25 February - Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

And, yes, while the movie is spoken in Aramaic (for the Jewish characters) and “street” Latin (for the Roman), there will be subtitles.

Those behind its promotion - including a Californian-based company called Outreach Inc which publishes Outreach Magazine - see the movie as an opportunity for outreach.

To that end, Outreach are providing a wealth of free materials on their website (www.thepassionoutreach.com) for churches and pastors to use including postcards, banners, invitations and evangelical booklets.

Jesus (Jim Caviezel) sits the apostles at The Last Supper. Photo credit: Philippe Antonello.

They also provide a list of ideas for how to best use the movie as a chance to encourage non-Christians who have seen the movie to “read the Book” including buying blocks of tickets, distributing scriptures and sermon ideas.

The website features a range of supportive quotes from prominent Christians in the United States who have viewed the film and include the likes of evangelist Billy Graham and authors Tim LaHaye and Lee Strobel.