The New Yorker: Review of “The Passion”

Normally I am not a fan of New Yorker film critic reviewer David Denby, but his review of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” is a fascinating read. Since I first heard about the film, I have shared the concerns voiced by many that this film would only create more anger and tension between the religions.r
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Clearly Gibson has his own obsessions for violence and pain, and he uses the death of Christ to explore these obsessions in horrifying detail. I’m not sure where Jesus’ message of love and hope fits into this story. One of my major problems with many Christian sects has been the focus on the death of Jesus, rather than on his life and message. Seeing a representation of his body nailed to the cross as the pre-eminent symbol of his teachings has long puzzled me. Yes, it’s a powerful symbol, but I wonder if the focus was on the teachings rather than the painful death he endured.