The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Bishops recommend The Passion of the Christ after advanced screening
MANILA (UCAN) - Philippine bishops who watched the advanced screenings of The Passion of the Christ have commended the producers and recommended the film to Filipinos of all faiths.
Warner Brothers Pictures, which is distributing the film about the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus, staged special screening of the movie directed by Mel Gibson. It was shown last March 8 in a Makati Cinema cinema, which is just southeast of Manila, and in a theater in Ortigas Center, which is not far from Makati.
Media reported some Vatican officials recommending the film after a screening for them in December. But a report that Pope John Paul II endorsed it was denied. The movie opened in US theaters on February 25, Ash Wednesday.
Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Manila told reporters who were at the Makati screening he hopes the film that shows “the reality of evil and the triumph of good” will awaken Filipino spirituality.
“I would recommend it to every Filipino who believes in goodness and accepts the reality of evil,” the prelate said, stressing that the movie not only shows the struggle against evil but also portrays “properly the goodness of the Lord”. The archbishop was impressed by the message “the Lord wanted to convey to every individual” through the film.
“As part of the history of Jesus, I would like all Filipinos to watch the film because it holds a promise for us,” Archbishop Rosales said in Filipino. “The suffering of Jesus is meaningful for us today, as we see in the suffering of the poor that calls us to respond,” he added.
“So, I congratulate the people who did this film,” the archbishop said.
The movie directed by Gibson, an Australian actor who has made no secret of his Catholic faith, has stirred debate in various countries. Criticism includes concern the film could stir anti-Semitism and disagreement with its casting a Caucasian in the role of Jesus.
Archbishop Rosales said those who criticize the portrayal of violence by Jewish people should realize that the basic aim is to raise awareness about growing violence in the world. “What they say about the anti-Semitism thing, it's only some people who want to raise an issue because after all, our Lord was himself a Jew,” Archbishop Rosales said.
Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao told reporters the movie brings one back to the essence of personal faith. “It makes us look at our faith” and realize “our sins are the reason for the pain and suffering of Jesus,” said the bishops' conference president.
The prelate, also convener of a bishops' dialog forum with Islamic scholars in the southern Philippines, recommended the movie to Christians and Muslims alike so both groups “could learn how Jesus died on the cross just to save people from sin.”
Viewers at the Makati screening included clergy, religious, lay Church and media people invited by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. The film will open in Philippine theaters on March 31, days before Holy Week.
Jesuit Father James Reuter, director of the Bishops' National Office of Mass Media, said the film is timely particularly for the Philippines, where more than 90 percent of the 76 million people are Christians. The film is valuable as an “ideal subject for meditation” during Holy Week and because Filipino Catholics are “deeply conscious of sin and very willing to accept Christ our Lord,” Father Reuter said.
Business and much else grinds to a half in many Philippine towns during Holy Week. Devotees re-enact the last hours of Christ, including his crucifixion, on streets in the northern Philippines, while around the country, parishes and basic ecclesial communities are busy with processions, confessions, traditional chanting of Christ's passion and other liturgical observances.
Various sectors such as the urban poor gather for their own street “Stations of the Cross” with special prayers adapted to their particular situation.
Freelance writer and film critic Francis Rex Alger, who was at the press screening of the movie at Ortigas Center, told UCA News, “The best aspect of the films is the lighting,” especially during the night scenes. “The use of the red color is striking, noted the critic, citing scenes where Jesus' eyes appeared red.
Alger, 33, is a volunteer member of pelikula@titusbrandsma. He said the movie commanded viewers at the Podium theater to complete silence then moved them to cringe and grimace during the bloody scenes, such as the scourging and crucifixion of Christ. At other times, he said, people applauded.
(UCAN report released on March 12, 2004)
MANILA (UCAN) - Philippine bishops who watched the advanced screenings of The Passion of the Christ have commended the producers and recommended the film to Filipinos of all faiths.
Warner Brothers Pictures, which is distributing the film about the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus, staged special screening of the movie directed by Mel Gibson. It was shown last March 8 in a Makati Cinema cinema, which is just southeast of Manila, and in a theater in Ortigas Center, which is not far from Makati.
Media reported some Vatican officials recommending the film after a screening for them in December. But a report that Pope John Paul II endorsed it was denied. The movie opened in US theaters on February 25, Ash Wednesday.
Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Manila told reporters who were at the Makati screening he hopes the film that shows “the reality of evil and the triumph of good” will awaken Filipino spirituality.
“I would recommend it to every Filipino who believes in goodness and accepts the reality of evil,” the prelate said, stressing that the movie not only shows the struggle against evil but also portrays “properly the goodness of the Lord”. The archbishop was impressed by the message “the Lord wanted to convey to every individual” through the film.
“As part of the history of Jesus, I would like all Filipinos to watch the film because it holds a promise for us,” Archbishop Rosales said in Filipino. “The suffering of Jesus is meaningful for us today, as we see in the suffering of the poor that calls us to respond,” he added.
“So, I congratulate the people who did this film,” the archbishop said.
The movie directed by Gibson, an Australian actor who has made no secret of his Catholic faith, has stirred debate in various countries. Criticism includes concern the film could stir anti-Semitism and disagreement with its casting a Caucasian in the role of Jesus.
Archbishop Rosales said those who criticize the portrayal of violence by Jewish people should realize that the basic aim is to raise awareness about growing violence in the world. “What they say about the anti-Semitism thing, it's only some people who want to raise an issue because after all, our Lord was himself a Jew,” Archbishop Rosales said.
Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao told reporters the movie brings one back to the essence of personal faith. “It makes us look at our faith” and realize “our sins are the reason for the pain and suffering of Jesus,” said the bishops' conference president.
The prelate, also convener of a bishops' dialog forum with Islamic scholars in the southern Philippines, recommended the movie to Christians and Muslims alike so both groups “could learn how Jesus died on the cross just to save people from sin.”
Viewers at the Makati screening included clergy, religious, lay Church and media people invited by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. The film will open in Philippine theaters on March 31, days before Holy Week.
Jesuit Father James Reuter, director of the Bishops' National Office of Mass Media, said the film is timely particularly for the Philippines, where more than 90 percent of the 76 million people are Christians. The film is valuable as an “ideal subject for meditation” during Holy Week and because Filipino Catholics are “deeply conscious of sin and very willing to accept Christ our Lord,” Father Reuter said.
Business and much else grinds to a half in many Philippine towns during Holy Week. Devotees re-enact the last hours of Christ, including his crucifixion, on streets in the northern Philippines, while around the country, parishes and basic ecclesial communities are busy with processions, confessions, traditional chanting of Christ's passion and other liturgical observances.
Various sectors such as the urban poor gather for their own street “Stations of the Cross” with special prayers adapted to their particular situation.
Freelance writer and film critic Francis Rex Alger, who was at the press screening of the movie at Ortigas Center, told UCA News, “The best aspect of the films is the lighting,” especially during the night scenes. “The use of the red color is striking, noted the critic, citing scenes where Jesus' eyes appeared red.
Alger, 33, is a volunteer member of pelikula@titusbrandsma. He said the movie commanded viewers at the Podium theater to complete silence then moved them to cringe and grimace during the bloody scenes, such as the scourging and crucifixion of Christ. At other times, he said, people applauded.
(UCAN report released on March 12, 2004)
posted by Francis Rex Alger @ 3:43 PM
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