Mama San
Administrator
I'll reserve my review of the film until I see it for myself!
I have, however, heard much negativity about the contents
of the film. Paul Harvey is a man that I greatly respect.
I believe what he has to say about the film but as I said
before, I'll have to see it myself and make my own decision.
God bless,
Mama san
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subject: PAUL HARVEYS REVIEW OF THE PASSION
The majority of the media are complaining about this movie. Now Paul Harvey
tells "The Rest of the Story".
Most people would wait and see a movie before giving the reviews that have
been issued by the reporters trying to tell all of us what to believe.
Paul Harvey's words:
I really did not know what to expect. I was thrilled to have been invited to
a private viewing of Mel Gibson's film "The Passion," but I had also read
all the cautious articles and spin. I grew up in a Jewish town and owe much
of my own faith journey to the influence. I have a life long, deeply held
aversion to anything that might even indirectly encourage any form of
anti-Semitic thought, language or actions.
I arrived at the private viewing for "The Passion", held in Washington DC
and greeted some familiar faces. The environment was typically
Washingtonian, with people greeting you with a smile but seeming to look
beyond you, having an agenda beyond the words. The film was very briefly
introduced, without fanfare, and then the room darkened.
From the gripping opening scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the very
human and tender portrayal of the earthly ministry of Jesus, through the
betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the way of the cross, the encounter
with the thieves, the surrender on the Cross, until the final scene in the
empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it was an encounter, unlike
anything I have ever experienced.
In addition to being a masterpiece of film-making and an artistic triumph,
"The Passion" evoked more deep reflection, sorrow and emotional reaction
within me than anything since my wedding, my ordination or the birth of my
children. Frankly, I will never be the same. When the film concluded, this
"invitation only" gathering of "movers and shakers" in Washington, DC were
shaking indeed, but this time from sobbing. I am not sure there was a dry
eye in the place. The crowd that had been glad-handing before the film was
now eerily silent. No one could speak because words were woefully
inadequate. We had experienced a kind of art that is a rarity in life, the
kind that makes heaven touch earth.
One scene in the film has now been forever etched in my mind. A brutalized,
wounded Jesus was soon to fall again under the weight of the cross. His
mother had made her way along the Via Della Rosa. As she ran to him, she
flashed back to a memory of Jesus as a child, falling in the dirt road
outside of their home. Just as she reached to protect him from the fall, she
was now reaching to touch his wounded adult face. Jesus looked at her with
intensely probing and passionately loving eyes (and at all of us through the
screen) and said "Behold I make all things new." These are words taken from
the last Book of the New Testament, the Book of the Revelation. Suddenly,
the purpose of the pain was so clear and the wounds, that earlier in the
film had been so difficult to see in His face, His back, indeed all over His
body, became intensely beautiful. They had been borne voluntarily for love.
At the end of the film, after we had all had a chance to recover, a question
and answer period ensued. The unanimous praise for the film, from a rather
diverse crowd, was as astounding as the compliments were effusive. The
questions included the one question that seems to follow this film, even
though it has not yet even been released. "Why is this film considered by
some to be "anti-Semitic?" Frankly, having now experienced (you do not
"view" this film) "the Passion" it is a question that is impossible to
answer. A law professor whom I admire sat in front of me. He raised his hand
and responded "After watching this film, I do not understand how anyone can
insinuate that it even remotely presents that the Jews killed Jesus. It
doesn't." He continued "It made me realize that my sins killed Jesus". I
agree.
There is not a scintilla of anti-Semitism to be found anywhere in this
powerful film. If there were, I would be among the first to decry it. It
faithfully tells the Gospel story in a dramatically beautiful, sensitive and
profoundly engaging way.
Those who are alleging otherwise have either not seen the film or have
another agenda behind their protestations. This is not a "Christian" film,
in the sense that it will appeal only to those who identify themselves as
followers of Jesus Christ. It is a deeply human, beautiful story that will
deeply touch all men and women. It is a profound work of art. Yes, its
producer is a Catholic Christian and thankfully has remained faithful to the
Gospel text; if that is no longer acceptable behavior than we are all in
trouble. History demands that we remain faithful to the story and Christians
have a right to tell it. After all, we believe that it is the greatest
story ever told and that its message is for all men and women. The greatest
right is the right to hear the truth.
We would all be well advised to remember that the Gospel narratives to which
"The Passion" is so faithful were written by Jewish men who followed a
Jewish Rabbi whose life and teaching have forever changed the history of the
world. The problem is not the message but those who have distorted it and
used it for hate rather than love. The solution is not to censor the
message, but rather to promote the kind of gift of love that is Mel Gibson's
filmmaking masterpiece, "The Passion."
I have, however, heard much negativity about the contents
of the film. Paul Harvey is a man that I greatly respect.
I believe what he has to say about the film but as I said
before, I'll have to see it myself and make my own decision.
God bless,
Mama san
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subject: PAUL HARVEYS REVIEW OF THE PASSION
The majority of the media are complaining about this movie. Now Paul Harvey
tells "The Rest of the Story".
Most people would wait and see a movie before giving the reviews that have
been issued by the reporters trying to tell all of us what to believe.
Paul Harvey's words:
I really did not know what to expect. I was thrilled to have been invited to
a private viewing of Mel Gibson's film "The Passion," but I had also read
all the cautious articles and spin. I grew up in a Jewish town and owe much
of my own faith journey to the influence. I have a life long, deeply held
aversion to anything that might even indirectly encourage any form of
anti-Semitic thought, language or actions.
I arrived at the private viewing for "The Passion", held in Washington DC
and greeted some familiar faces. The environment was typically
Washingtonian, with people greeting you with a smile but seeming to look
beyond you, having an agenda beyond the words. The film was very briefly
introduced, without fanfare, and then the room darkened.
From the gripping opening scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the very
human and tender portrayal of the earthly ministry of Jesus, through the
betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the way of the cross, the encounter
with the thieves, the surrender on the Cross, until the final scene in the
empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it was an encounter, unlike
anything I have ever experienced.
In addition to being a masterpiece of film-making and an artistic triumph,
"The Passion" evoked more deep reflection, sorrow and emotional reaction
within me than anything since my wedding, my ordination or the birth of my
children. Frankly, I will never be the same. When the film concluded, this
"invitation only" gathering of "movers and shakers" in Washington, DC were
shaking indeed, but this time from sobbing. I am not sure there was a dry
eye in the place. The crowd that had been glad-handing before the film was
now eerily silent. No one could speak because words were woefully
inadequate. We had experienced a kind of art that is a rarity in life, the
kind that makes heaven touch earth.
One scene in the film has now been forever etched in my mind. A brutalized,
wounded Jesus was soon to fall again under the weight of the cross. His
mother had made her way along the Via Della Rosa. As she ran to him, she
flashed back to a memory of Jesus as a child, falling in the dirt road
outside of their home. Just as she reached to protect him from the fall, she
was now reaching to touch his wounded adult face. Jesus looked at her with
intensely probing and passionately loving eyes (and at all of us through the
screen) and said "Behold I make all things new." These are words taken from
the last Book of the New Testament, the Book of the Revelation. Suddenly,
the purpose of the pain was so clear and the wounds, that earlier in the
film had been so difficult to see in His face, His back, indeed all over His
body, became intensely beautiful. They had been borne voluntarily for love.
At the end of the film, after we had all had a chance to recover, a question
and answer period ensued. The unanimous praise for the film, from a rather
diverse crowd, was as astounding as the compliments were effusive. The
questions included the one question that seems to follow this film, even
though it has not yet even been released. "Why is this film considered by
some to be "anti-Semitic?" Frankly, having now experienced (you do not
"view" this film) "the Passion" it is a question that is impossible to
answer. A law professor whom I admire sat in front of me. He raised his hand
and responded "After watching this film, I do not understand how anyone can
insinuate that it even remotely presents that the Jews killed Jesus. It
doesn't." He continued "It made me realize that my sins killed Jesus". I
agree.
There is not a scintilla of anti-Semitism to be found anywhere in this
powerful film. If there were, I would be among the first to decry it. It
faithfully tells the Gospel story in a dramatically beautiful, sensitive and
profoundly engaging way.
Those who are alleging otherwise have either not seen the film or have
another agenda behind their protestations. This is not a "Christian" film,
in the sense that it will appeal only to those who identify themselves as
followers of Jesus Christ. It is a deeply human, beautiful story that will
deeply touch all men and women. It is a profound work of art. Yes, its
producer is a Catholic Christian and thankfully has remained faithful to the
Gospel text; if that is no longer acceptable behavior than we are all in
trouble. History demands that we remain faithful to the story and Christians
have a right to tell it. After all, we believe that it is the greatest
story ever told and that its message is for all men and women. The greatest
right is the right to hear the truth.
We would all be well advised to remember that the Gospel narratives to which
"The Passion" is so faithful were written by Jewish men who followed a
Jewish Rabbi whose life and teaching have forever changed the history of the
world. The problem is not the message but those who have distorted it and
used it for hate rather than love. The solution is not to censor the
message, but rather to promote the kind of gift of love that is Mel Gibson's
filmmaking masterpiece, "The Passion."
