The Passion of the Christ depicts the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life, and is less of an adaptation of the Gospels than an adaptation of the Stations of the Cross. (Everyone knows this story, so don’t complain of any spoilers; the Bible was already the ultimate spoiler.) It opens with Jesus (Jim Caviezel) praying intensely in the dark, foggy Garden of Gethsemane, as a sinister, androgynous Satan (Rosalinda Celentano) looms in the trees and tries to talk him out of what he is about to do. The disloyal Judas (Luca Lionello) arrives with guards, right after being paid 30 pieces of silver by the Pharisees. He gives Jesus the kiss, and Jesus surrenders dutifully as his disciples come to his defense. After being confronted by Caiphas (Mattia Sbragia), the high priest, and the other Pharisees with accusations of blasphemy, he is sent to Pilate (Hristo Naumov Shopov) to determine his fate. After being scourged and tortured, Jesus is once again brought before Pilate, who succumbs to the crowd’s pressure and condemns Jesus to death. And as his mother Mary (Maia Morgenstern), Mary Magdalene (Monica Belluci), and the rest of Jerusalem look on, Jesus carries his cross up to Golgotha and is crucified.
The Passion of the Christ is the most violent, goriest film I have ever seen, and surely for many others as well. And because of this, many will leave the theater even before the credits roll. But the violence here definitely isn’t the same as the blown up cars we see in popcorn action flicks; this violence is beautiful, passionate. The bloodied marks that criss-cross Jesus’ whipped body, the blood that trickles down his temples from the thorn crown, the splattered blood from his nailed palms; they may be visually gross and ugly to look at, but the messages the film is able convey so clearly of sacrifice, forgiveness, tolerance are so riveting. And you don’t even need to be a Christian to be moved; The Passion is universal. (The film, however, is not suitable for young children who will not understand the violence and brutality, and do not need to be traumatized in order to understand faith.)
But The Passion, at least for me, isn’t a film that will uplift, enlighten, and make you feel better about yourself, others, and your faith. On the contrary, it will depress, shock, maybe even horrify and disturb those who witness the bloodshed. I feel sorry for those who will enter devout and optimistic and leave with their spirit trampled and assaulted.
In the Gospel of John, the scourging at the pillar is contained in just one verse. So to write a 127-minute feature film, Gibson added several narrative appendages to the story, and these I found very interesting; instead of a direct adaptation, he makes it an interpretation. In Gethsemane, Satan is tempting Jesus, and a symbolic serpent slithers out from under its robe. In the Bible, there is no reference to any devil or snake, and yet I found it fascinating how Gibson cast a woman to play Satan. After Judas’ betrayal, his guilt takes the form of visions of demonic children that drive him out of Jerusalem, until he hangs himself. Again, no frightening children in the book. And right after the scourging, Pilate’s compassionate wife Claudia, who at first tried to convince her hubby not to condemn Jesus, gives the two Marys linens to clean up his blood. However, one questionable portrayal is of Pilate, who is shown as very sympathetic, compassionate and hospitable, even offering Jesus a cool drink.
The performances are superb: Jim Caviezel, bravely taking on a role that could either make or break his career, has a subtle aura of benevolence that his eyes communicate. But it’s Maia Morgenstern who shines; her Mary is heartbreaking and strong, and surprisingly made me cry in a movie like I’ve never before. Seeing Mary watch her son suffer as she tries to accept the inevitability of his death will move anyone to tears. Caleb Deschanel’s cinematography is beautiful and dramatic, and John Debney’s score is haunting.
The Passion of the Christ is a cinematic masterpiece, and Mel Gibson’s best film to date, be it for acting or directing. It is heart-wrenching, moving, and incredibly powerful, and is so far the best film of 2004. However, it will not uplift or enlighten yet rather shock and horrify, and thus shouldn’t be seen as a film that will strengthen one’s faith yet rather a heartbreaking drama. Is The Passion anti-Semitic? No, and I don’t think it was meant to be. But can it provoke anti-Semitism? Yes.
Bottom Line: Brutal yet beautiful, The Passion of the Christ is incredibly powerful, moving, intense and heart-wrenching, and is so far the best film of 2004.
Grade: A
Reference: Entertainment Weekly, issue #755.
Watch Celine in Las Vegas: Opening Night on Star World. Celine Dion’s Las Vegas extravaganza at Caesar’s Palace has the spirit of a Cirque Du Soleil show set to Celine’s songs, and this special shows the night it premiered last year. Catch it on March 31st.