I went to see this movie because I am a Christian. I’ve seen and been in numerous versions of the Passion Play but this is the first time I’ve been so riveted. Having been to Israel, I could relate to the reality of the setting. I’ve been in the Garden. I’ve walked the roads that Jesus would have walked. I thought Mel did an excellent job in re-enacting this.
The drop into the oubliette is the first time I’ve seen this portion of Jesus arrest included. And I can imagine that he was tormented spiritually more than physically. How easy it would have been for him to call the whole thing off. But he didn’t. Which is why this link to anti-semitism has no bearing. He made the choice. No one else. And only an intimate relationship with our Lord could produce such a masterpiece, perhaps a visitation.
True to the text, the movie draws you not only to the text again, but to the person of the Lord. Yes, it was graphic, but for too long, the story of the crucifixion has been prettied up or set aside. The church has become lukewarm due to the dilution of what we’ve not been willing to look at. Well, Mel is asking us to look at it. And look at it we did. The question is, what do we do with it?