"The Passion of The Christ" is a true work of art

y Leslie Alexander

"The Passion of The Christ" is a true work of art. Focused almost entirely on the crucifixion and death of Christ, it views like a continuing conversation that was abruptly interrupted and which will now resume. This conversation assumes one has at least some knowledge of the subject matter. There are no broad, detailed explanations as to the ostensible mission of the man; no extensive background on the prisoner whose impending death looms before us. The historical Christ who appears on the screen--of whom almost no one can claim complete ignorance--looms before us, and then gets down to the business of dying before our eyes.

But why? If, as some claim, there can be no spiritual or emotional resonance with this story, this historical conversation, for anyone other than a believer, why bother? Because it is art, as true and as rich as has ever stirred a heart.

The emotional themes in this firm correlate with the central issues of humanity: the primal and irresistible impulse of a mother (Mary) to protect her child from unconscionable pain; the gut-wrenching and seductive temptation of a man (Jesus) to shirk the duty that he knows is his alone; the endlessly deep gratitude of a woman (Mary Magdalene) who was literally lifted from the abyss by love; and the disturbing echoes of a traitor (Judas) who betrayed his closest friend for profit, and had to take his own life to still the screams of conscience.

Finally, the greatest true-life protagonist who has ever lived transcended indignity, cruelty and pain to put a new spin on suffering: Allow it to transform you, and it will never destroy you.

Religious and non-religious alike can take from these snapshots of the human experience a deeper appreciation of the complexities of existence; the eternal rippling effect of once-perpetuated injustice; and the radical notion that something bleak and dark can be recreated into something noble, something beautiful, something more wonderful than even life itself.

Like all great art, the images in the film seep into the intellect and shoot into the soul and then burst raging into the heart.

See this film as a believer. Or see it as a skeptic. But see it. And then walk away in solidarity with the rest of the human race.

Contact

The Catholic American
https://www.catholic.org LA, US
Leslie Alexander - Teacher, 337 993-1130

Email

alexanderleslie@stm.k12.la.us

Keywords

Christ, Passion, Movie

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