Profits, pornography and The Passion
Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ, which depicts the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus, is in a long tradition of 'Lenten art', which told the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Some critics condemned it for its violence and alleged 'antisemitic overtones'. Others welcomed it as bringing the Gospels to the people. The controversy undoubtedly boosted its profits.
The issues
- Since the Middle Ages, Passion Plays have depicted Christ's last days – the Last Supper, being deserted by his disciples, then carrying his own cross up the hill, to die a criminal's death.
- Many of these plays, which were performed across Europe, portrayed Jews in a hostile, stereotyped way, and Jews were often attacked and persecuted with particular violence around Easter time.
- Hitler is said to have watched the world famous Passion Play in Oberammergau in Bavaria, Germany, where it has been performed every 10 years since 1634. It is claimed that Hitler said the play sparked off his hatred of the Jews.
- Critics have argued that Mel Gibson's movie is whipping up antisemitism by showing bloodthirsty Jews baying for the torture and death of Jesus Christ, though some historians deny that the Jews played any such role in the story.
- Gibson says he was 'inspired by the Holy Spirit' to produce The Passion of the Christ.
- Gibson's movie takes the Passion Play to its utmost extreme, illustrating Christ's suffering in horrifying detail. One leading American critic described the film as 'incredibly fetishistically violent'; another, though, said it was 'lovingly violent'.
- Since it was released in February 2004, The Passion of the Christ has grossed US$611,899,420 worldwide.
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Further information
Your can read about the debates surrounding this and other controversial religions films at Cash converters.
You can delve more deeply into the issues by looking at the websites and books in our Find out more section.
