Passion (movie)

As of 2003, the film is in production in Italy, on scenic locations that were selected to evoke Caravaggio's paintings. In a bold departure from previous films on the life of Christ, the dialogue will be spoken entirely in Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew, and no subtitles will be available in either the film or videotape releases. Jim Cavaziel[?] portrays perhaps the most Semitic-looking Jesus ever on film, and great attention will be paid to historical detail such as Jewish clothing and dietary customs. The crucifixion sequence will reputedly be exceptionally violent and graphic.

Gibson was inspired to produce the film when he returned to the Catholic faith around 1980. After reading the Old and New Testaments, supplemented by the insights into Christ's passion and death in The Mystical City of God by Venerable Mary of Agreda[?] (a 17th-century nun), and the writings of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich[?] (a 17th-century stigmatic), Gibson was determined to retell the familiar story as realistically as possible.

According to Gibson's friend Gary Giuffre, the film will "lay the blame for the death of Christ where it belongs", a prospect that has provoked speculation that the film will espouse theological views regarded by some advocates as anti-semitic (see theological anti-Semitism).

External link

• LA Rabbi Asks Mel Gibson to Reconsider Jesus Film (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=765&u=/nm/20030308/people_nm/leisure_passion_dc_4&printer=1) - Yahoo News