Reaction to film mixed

More than 300 local clergy and faith representatives experienced, flinched, winced and even shed tears Tuesday morning during a pre- release screening of Mel Gibson's new film depicting Jesus Christ's final hours.

"The Passion of the Christ" has garnered both critical acclaim and determined derision in the weeks leading up to its general release in theaters today. Two orthodox Jewish rabbis viewed the film and spoke to reporters afterward, along with other clergy of various faiths.

National Jewish leaders, both religious and political, have warned that the film's depiction of angry Jewish holy men calling for Christ's death could rekindle historic anti-Semitism, particularly in Europe where such sentiments are on the rise again merely a half- century following the Holocaust.

Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah said Gibson's portrayal of Jewish leaders, including the biblical Caiaphas, as "bloodthirsty murderers and criminals is extremely inaccurate and inappropriate." The film was "extremely accurate" in its translations of Aramaic and Latin, which are spoken by the film's characters (English subtitles are included), Zippel said. "Unfortunately, I can't say the same" for its historical accuracy.

When asked if he was offended by the portrayal, the rabbi said "absolutely," yet he said he wouldn't discourage those who want to view it from seeing it. He said Jewish wisdom in the Talmud encourages people to make sure their intellect is in control of their emotion. Gibson obviously feels passionately about the story he told, Rabbi Zippel said, and that emotion comes through in the film "not necessarily filtered by the intellect."

Rabbi Ari Galandauer of Sha'arei Tefila Synagogue said the film was "very powerful," but he differed with its rendition of history. Even so, he said he is sure the message Gibson hopes to portray will come out in the end, and he doesn't expect any real backlash of anti- Semitism. Noting the Catholic Church's rejection in the 1960s of the Jewish people's responsibility for the death of Jesus, he said, "I think in general people understand and have a broader perspective of the Jewish people. "

Rabbi Galandauer said he was happy to be invited to the screening and thanked the Rev. Greg Johnson of the local ministry "Standing Together" for organizing the event and inviting Jewish leaders. The Rev. Johnson said he was a bit apprehensive because he didn't want to create offense but thanked the rabbi for coming as the two embraced.

Dan John, director of religious education for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, said Gibson's movie was "the most unforgiving film I've ever seen. If you believe in a two-dimensional Jesus like you would see in a cartoon, this film is not for you." Despite the brutal and lengthy depictions of scourging and crucifixion that left many of the Roman soldiers spattered in blood, John said he identified with the biblical Simon, who was forced to help Christ carry his cross to Calvary.

"That was a strong witness of what I need to do for the next couple of months," he said, referring to the fact that the Christian season of Lent begins today and culminates in the celebration of Easter. "It's time for all of us to carry the cross again."

The Rev. France Davis of Calvary Baptist Church praised the film as "a testimony to the life, as well as the death, of Jesus Christ." He said the criticisms he's heard of the film were "not well- founded."

The Rev. Mike Imperiale of First Presbyterian Church said he would "recommend this film to adults, to be sure. They should come and see the great love God has for us and what he gave in exchange for our lives . . . for Jews and Gentiles alike, for every person in the world."

The film is fine for adults but "a little too bloody" for children, according to the Rev. Mike Grey of Southeast Baptist Church. "I believe the appropriate age would be teenagers, and I recommend they see it with their families."

Robert Millet, the Richard L. Evans professor of religious understanding at Brigham Young University, said while the term "whitewash" may be too strong a term for "how we treat the reality of the Crucifixion, I believe we don't often think about how difficult, how morbid and how horrific it really was. I sat there at the end being stunned by the reality of the experience."

He said he was deeply moved by the depiction of Mary, Christ's mother, because members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "don't focus a great deal on her," yet the film helped him understand better a bit of what she must have felt. He wished Gibson had taken another hour to portray the Christ's resurrection, yet he said, "I don't know if my system could have taken it another hour. But it was a beautiful experience."

Bishop George Niederauer of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City attended the screening but wasn't able to stay for the press conference. On his way out of the film, he said it was "powerful and very moving. . . . I think the story of salvation has been in danger of becoming a remote legend."

"Something like this makes the physical reality of what happened part of the powerful present." But nothing replaces the personal quest for understanding of Christ through living his words as a "spiritual application of our seeking," he said.

"A film can't do that."

E-mail: carrie@desnews.com

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