Mel Gibson directs Jim Caviezel (Jesus). Picture: Philippe Antonello.

20th February, 2004

DAVID ADAMS

Uncomfortable and confronting but a unique and compelling look at the death of Jesus Christ.

That, according to Tony Crook, executive director of the Bible Society Victoria, is the verdict he’s hearing from some of the hundreds of pastors and ministers who have attended a preview screening of Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ.

“Nobody has said it was anything but authentic,” says Crook, who has spoken to numerous church leaders who have attended screenings in Melbourne and Geelong. “People are saying it’s right in your face but it’s right.”

The film, which opens on around 120 screens across Australia on Ash Wednesday, traces the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ.

Directed, produced, co-written and even partly funded by Gibson (described as a Roman Catholic), the two-hour film stars James Caviezel (The Count of Monte Cristo and Frequency) as Jesus, Maia Morgenstern as Mary and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene. While the characters will be speaking in the languages of the time, including “street Latin”, Hebrew and the almost now extinct Aramaic, it will be subtitled, despite initial suggestions to the contrary.

Those behind the film, including Gibson, see it as an unheralded opportunity for evangelism - “perhaps the best outreach opportunity in 2000 years” says the Californian-based organisation Outreach Inc which has been working to promote the project.

Mary Magdalene (Monica Bellucci), Mary (Maiua Morgenstern) and John (Hristo Jovkov) in The Passion of the Christ. Picture: Philippe Antonello.

Gibson has also defended the film against claims it is anti-Semitic and too violent. He has said it was important the film was realistic to get across to audiences the depth of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice.

The film’s Australian distributor, Icon Films Australia, says the film will break a record by being released on the highest number of screens for a subtitled move in Australia. They say some cinemas have received bookings for groups of up to 4,000 people to view the movie on the opening day.

Reaction from church leaders in Australia appears to have largely been positive.

Brian Houston, the senior pastor of Hillsong Church and the national president of the Assembles of God churches in Australia, says that while Jesus Christ has been depicted many times in art, music and literature, the movie “stands out as the most graphic and deeply impacting portrayal of His death that I have ever seen”. Pastor Houston says he believes anyone who sees the film will be challenged about their beliefs.

Meanwhile Cardinal George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, describes the movie as a “beautiful production, a work of faith, truly based on the gospels”.

The Bible Society’s Crook says that while he has only heard positive comments about the quality of the confronting film, the movie will be a shock for Christians who were used to hearing about the gentle nature of Christ.

Jesus (Jim Caviezel). Picture: Philippe Antonello.

“This is tough stuff...We’ve had many people saying this is going to rock both Christians and non-Christians. It’s not a comfortable movie.”

Crook says audience members had been moved to tears and some had not been able to speak after seeing the movie.

The Bible Society has been involved in co-ordinating preview screenings for church leaders in capital cities and some major regional centres across the country. More than 600 people have attended two screenings in Victoria.

Crook says the screenings were organised so that church leaders could make the most of the opportunities for evangelism arising from the movie.

The Bible Society has also prepared resource kits to help pastors - it contains a CD-ROM with mission ideas and promotional trailers - and is hoping to publish a pocket-sized Gospel of Mark complete with images from the film and additional explanatory notes shortly.

In addition, they’ve prepared a 30 second advertisement to be screened prior to the film in all cinemas which have Val Morgan advertising. Featuring AFL footballer Shaun Hart, rugby league player Jason Stevens and Australian Idol finalist Paulini Curuenavuli, the ad urges people to discover the “book that inspired the film” (aka the Bible).

In the United States, meanwhile, the film - which will open on 2,000 cinema screens and is expected to be a box office hit - continues to receive massive media attention with thousands of church leaders attending preview screenings. One report from the US said one man in Chicago was so moved by the film that he bought $US42,000 worth of tickets so people could see it.

THE PASSION ON THE WEB :

The Australian Passion Network
www.thepassion.org.au

The Australian Passion Network was created by the Bible Societies of Queensland and South Australia. This website is primarily for churchgoers, with lots of downloadable resources to help people use the movie for evangelical purposes. There are preview trailers and powerpoint presentations to show in your church service, online forms for group bookings, fliers, promotional posters, and production notes. There are also links to external passion-related feature articles, like interviews with director Mel Gibson. An interesting product you can order from the site is the "Gospel of Mark - Movie Review Edition", a CEV version of the gospel that has commentary and full-colour photos that link the text to the movie. At this stage, two days before the official release of the film, this site is stirring - but it will be far more interesting after the release, with the promise of forums, chat sessions and more information for non-Christians wanting to know what it's all about.
- JAMES CROOK

For the official site including trailers, see www.thepassionofthechrist.com
For website links, see www.hollywoodjesus.com/passion_about.htm