The Passion Preview

I attended today a special pre-screening of "The Passion of the Christ" in Montreal, organized by ALPHA Canada, the Evangelical Pentecostal Church and Equinox Films, the Canadian distributor of the film (over 600 leaders and representatives from all Christian denominations attended the event). The copy we saw was not the final cut of the movie, but was 95% percent finished... but even so, it was quite a powerful and awe-inspiring experience! The film is as brutal as it is extraordinary. As a Catholic, I could not help but be inspired/horrified by the images of Christ's suffering, and I was moved to tears countless times. It is artistically impressive and the acting is perfect. It is like you are there. Indeed, as someone said : "It is as it was" !

"We esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53: 4b-5, RSV).

(As for the controversy, I didn't find the film Anti-Semitic--- unless you consider the Gospels anti-semitic!--- ; on the contrary, there are so many good, compassionate Jews surrounding Christ with their love and support! You feel their pain and you suffer with them. If anything, it's the Italians who should be worried... the Romans are quite blood-thirsty!) AVE CRUX, SPES UNICA!

PG : Graphically brutal depiction of Christ's passion and death.