Australian wonder boy Mel Gibson is hard at work as writer, producer and director of a new film chronicling the final 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ, including a graphic portrayal of the crucifixion.
The cast for the film, “The Passion,” includes James Caviezel (“Frequency,” “The Thin Red Line”) playing Jesus, Monica Bellucci (“The Matrix: Reloaded”) as Mary Magdelene and others still are in the casting process.
Since the start of production, the script, the filming, the language and the project as a whole have been at the center of controversy.
While trying to successfully produce a film, Gibson also has been responding to concerns from different religious groups about the film’s historical accuracy and message.
Many groups, such as the Anti-Defamation League, have been outspoken with fears that the release of “The Passion” might provoke hatred toward Jewish people.
The League, an organization that works to fight Anti-Semitism, says the film in its current form depicts Jews as a whole as being guilty for crucifying Christ.
One issue that has caused concern with the Catholic Church is that the dialogue is in Latin and Aramaic with no English subtitles. The language of the film has provoked a mixed reaction in the campus community.
“If I can’t understand it, it doesn’t really interest me,” said Chase Caillet, a computer engineering sophomore.
Erin Abadie, a biology senior, thought differently.
“Just because it isn’t in English, that doesn’t mean I don’t know the story of the history, so I’ll still know what’s going on,” Abadie said.
Charles Isbell, a professor in the Department of Religious Studies and a member of the Jewish faith, cited several historical inaccuracies in Gibson’s film. One example he cited is that Jesus never spoke Latin, a language used in the film.
Isbell said the film could be potentially dangerous for Jews, who have been a well-treated minority in the United States. The movie’s production has generated a response among Jewish religious figures as well.
“It seems to me that most of us would be leery of any literary or cinematic work which could potentially lead to prejudice against any group,” said Rabbi Barry Weinstein of Congregation B’Nai Israel. “I do hope that this movie might be carefully reviewed by those in charge of its production so that any anti-Jewish sentiments could be removed.”
Gibson is aiming to give “The Passion” a spring 2004 release.