| The White Man of Passion |
 |
 |
 |
|
The first time I read about Mel Gibson's new movie The Passion Of The Christ, I quickly dismissed it. The report said it was going to be in Latin and Armaic. I thought "that's a lost cause" and promptly forgot about it. The next time it came to my attention was when a Jewish guy I was having dinner with said to his friend who was also Jewish "Have you heard about Gibson's film?" "It's going to be anti-semitic" "I know." I was surprised. I thought the film had been finished and had gone underground. Then bits and pieces started surfacing. The Pope saw it and said it was fine (or did he?) and the word of mouth continued to build until it opened in the States and smashed all box office records. Reminds me of a line from a hip hop track "Five million sold/Album still selling though". The Passion is still selling and people are lining up to get some of that juice. Mel Gibson spent his own money to make the film and that has always been a fantasy of mine. With God is African, I did spend my own money (along with some other people's) so I haven't reached my ultimate fantasy which is to spend my money on a film I believe in and make a profit like Mel Gibson has done. I can picture him waiting for them to set up lights on the set of the Lethal Weapon movies making his notes about The Passion. Danny Glover wondering why all these Latin scholars are hanging around all the time. This has to be the most successful subtitled movie ever and it's in a language that isn't even used today! As a filmmaker I have to admire Mel Gibson's conviction and determination. The film is dogged with controversy and maybe his intentions aren't as honest as he might want us to believe but as a filmmaker I take my hat off to him. I went to watch the film the night it opened in South Africa. The suspense was killing me. Apart from the idiot sitting next to me who insisted on keeping his cellphone on and chatting through the first twenty minutes of the movie, I was engrossed throughout. The idiot next to me, when he eventually settled down, soon got very vocal. Annoyed at Peter's denial, surprised at Judas' behaviour - I wondered whether he didn't know The Greatest Story Ever Told. I thought the film was brilliant. The way in which it was told. The economy of language (maybe some actors struggled) and the performances of the actors. I heard about the violence but for me there was much more violence in Tarantino's crap movie Kill Bill Vol 1 and I don't remember hearing anyone complain. In this day and age where images are beamed at us, the sight of blood has lost its meaning. When the violence has a consequence I find people find it hard to relate. The blood in this film has consequences. I also don't think its anti-Semetic. Some people wanted him dead. If anything it has more to say about the corruption of power and what happens when an innocent man is sent to death. The mob mentality that exists in our society today also existed in those days. `Crucify him they cry' could be substituted for a lot of innocent men round the world today who find themselves on the wrong side of public opinion. We have all seen the pictures, and we all know the story. Jesus died on the cross. But when you write it or you read it you don't get a sense of what that really means. Jesus Christ Superstar and King Of Kings don't really go there. As a filmmaker Gibson takes you there. This is what it means to be nailed to a cross. Some people might argue that they don't need to see it and I say to them then don't go see the film. We all know the story. No surprises in this film and nor is there need for any. The story is pretty simple. But my head was ringing at the end of the film. I felt moved. Tears were on the tip of my eyes but didn't fall. I was definitely touched. And what is a movie if it can't move you and make you feel things you haven't felt? The Man suffered and for every lashing he got I thought of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Mahatma Ghandi, Ken Saro Wiwa, Nelson Mandela and men and women who constantly have to sacrifice their life to make our lives better. My drama teacher once told me that the best position to be in is when some people hate your work and some people like your work. Mel Gibson is in that position. He only made one mistake. Wasn't Jesus black? |
Contact us
ph +2721 424 3572
f +2786 616 3119
info@cbroutes.com
| Cape Town |