FACES AND PLACES: "It is as it was" (02/01/04)

FACES AND PLACES

by Myron B. Kuropas

"It is as it was"

When Pope John Paul II viewed Mel Gibson's much-maligned film "The Passion of the Christ" last December, he was, reportedly, moved to exclaim, "It is as it was."

The New York Times art critic Frank Rich chose to believe that the holy father's statement was a bogus claim by the film's producers. "Pope John Paul II, frail with Parkinson's at 83, is rarely able to celebrate mass," wrote Mr. Rich. "But why should his suffering deter a Hollywood producer from roping him into a publicity campaign to sell a movie?" Mel Gibson is engaging in "spiritual McCarthysim" and "hard-knuckled religious politics" to smear critics of the film, fumed Mr. Rich.

And just who might the critics of a film depicting the last 12 tormented hours of Jesus Christ be?

Last summer certain scholars associated with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops obtained an apparently stolen copy of an early draft of the script and immediately denounced the film as scripturally incorrect and potentially injurious to Christian-Jewish relations.

Also critical of the film was Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Stephen Soroka who, after viewing a rough cut of the upcoming film, offered a detailed analysis in an article posted on the web in September 2003: "I would not recommend the movie to my friends nor to the faithful (and particularly the young) because the film, while interesting in the way some things are portrayed (particularly evil) lacks contact to really engage my interest ... The film offers very few flashback scenes of Jesus in his lifetime, and ends sharply with just an indication of his Resurrection. There is very little offered to help the viewer to come to know and appreciate Jesus in his humanity and in his divinity ... there is nothing to suggest or to offer hope in Jesus Christ, in light of his Crucifixion and Resurrection."

By contrast, Vatican Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, who also viewed the film, declared that he was "confident that it will change for the better everyone who sees it ... it will bring people closer to God, and closer to one another." As for charges that the film will contribute to anti-Semitism, the cardinal was adamant. "This film does nothing of the sort. It draws out from the historical objectivity of the Gospel narratives sentiments of forgiveness, mercy and reconciliation. It captures the subtleties and horror of sin, as well as the gentle power of love and forgiveness, without making or insinuating blanket condemnations against one group."

Joining Cardinal Hoyos in praising the film were such notable Christian leaders as Billy Graham, James Dobson and Michael Novak.

After an Anti-Defamation League representative viewed a rough cut of the film, ADL Director Abraham Foxman slammed Mr. Gibson for being "infected, seriously infected, with some very, very serious anti-Semitic views." In a June 24, 2003, press release, the ADL articulated its concern that the film would "portray Jews as bloodthirsty, sadistic, and money-hungry enemies of Jesus." When Mr. Foxman finally viewed the film, the ADL issued a blistering press release condemning Mr. Gibson for ignoring "the warning of Jewish and Catholic interfaith scholars about the explosive nature of the traditional Passion Play narrative."

Also fearing an anti-Semitic backlash was Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. He urged Mr. Gibson to make certain changes so "that the Jewish people are not yet again falsely singled out as being responsible for the death of Jesus." Rabbi Hier claimed to have received hate mail as a result of the film. In light of the fact that the film is not in theaters as yet, this is an amazing claim.

Not all Jews agree with Mr. Foxman and Rabbi Hier. Movie critic Michael Medved invited Mr. Foxman to discuss the controversy on his nationally syndicated radio show but the ADL director refused. In a recent column, Mr. Medved emphasized his belief that Mr. Gibson had been "unfairly targeted with widely premature attacks on his movie ... When I watched the rough cut at the offices of Gibson's Icon Entertainment International," wrote Mr. Medved, "I felt overwhelmed by its lyrical intensity and devastating immediacy: the suffering of Christ (superbly portrayed by the haunted and haunting Jim Caviezel) become unendurable. The much-derided decision to force the international cast to deliver the lines in Aramaic also works brilliantly, emphasizing the almost unbridgeable distance between the world of first-century Judea and our own, and avoiding the banal, anachronistic chatter typical of less authentic Biblical movies ..."

Rabbi Daniel Lapin argues that those Jews who publicly protest Mr. Gibson and his film "lack moral legitimacy." They were silent when Arnold Lehman, the Jewish director of the Brooklyn Museum, decided to showcase the art of Jewish artist Christ Ofill's dung-bedecked Madonna. When Catholics protested the defilement, it was defended by Norman Siegel and Arthur Eisenberg of the New York Civil Liberties Union as well as Stephen Shapor of the American Civil Liberties Union. When the Weinstein brothers distributed "Priest" (a film depicting a practicing homosexual priest and another priest who bedded his housekeeper), the response was that "artistic freedom" is sacrosanct. Ditto for the abominable film "The Last Temptation of Christ."

"The Passion of the Christ" is due to hit American theaters on February 25, Ash Wednesday. Dr. Donna Dobrowolsky, a fellow parishioner, informs me that pre-release vouchers are available for purchase (Visa and Master-card) by calling 888-227-1152.

The controversy regarding what the holy father said, or did not say, about the film continues. As yet, no one has claimed that Pope John Paul II condemned the film as anti-Semitic. Given the pontiff's historically long record of calling for dialogue, reconciliation and respect for Jews, that fact is good enough for me. I look forward to seeing the film and providing The Weekly's readers with a personal assessment as well commentary regarding Jewish concerns with sacred Christian scripture.

Myron Kuropas' e-mail address is: [email protected].

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