As someone recently told me, films are not made in vacuums. While I may not have become a complete convert, I must admit that I left the theater that night with something I’d never had: a deeply meaningful appreciation of the power and importance of faith. As I was moved to tears by the magnitude of Jesus’ suffering, it became apparent to me that not all of my emotions were grounded in my southern Baptist upbringing. For my part, I went to see this film back in February as someone raised Christian, but not practicing any particular religion. In any case, no one is stopping them from picking up a bible for further reading. To those critics, I submit that one need not be a Christian to know the life of Christ. Some have faulted the film for this conceit, claiming that this approach prevents non-Christians from appreciating the movie’s message. Certain things are simply expected of an audience and one of them, like it or not, are some foreknowledge of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Criticizing this film for a lack of context is as baseless as attacking “Fahrenheit 9/11” for not including a history lesson about the Iraq war. It forces one to view it through a unique and personal lens, getting out of it only what he or she brings to the table. Some have criticized the movie for this, but I would argue that it is one of the film’s greatest strengths.
Beginning with Christ’s betrayal and arrest, and culminating with his crucifixion and resurrection, “The Passion of the Christ” expects and demands a working knowledge of its subject matter to achieve the maximum impact.
As such, there is little to no context in which to place the events which unfold in the film. The plot, as the title would suggest, focuses exclusively on the last twelve hours of Jesus’ life. Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” isn’t so much a movie as it is a visceral experience. Plot: What’s it about? Video: How does it look? Audio: How does it sound? Supplements: What are the extras? The Bottom Line Plot: What’s it about?
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