THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
Mel Gibson
2004

Gibsons Gospel is his own. He borrows bits and pieces from all Gospels and from extrabiblical work and from his own "visions" of how Christ must have been treated on the day he was crucified.

Notes
The Passion of the Christ

The film opens with a quote from Isaiah.

He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; by
His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53 700 BC

Full moon.
Blue tint.
Middle Eastern drone.
Camera move down through clouds.
Crickets.
Praying in Aramaic.
Christ standing in the garden.
Camera moves through trees.
"Adonai. Adonai."
Wanders to see his disciples sleeping.
Wakes them.
Disciples stunned.
Embarrassed.

Cut to Judas with the Jewish leaders.
Money is thrown at him.
Can almost count the 30 pieces.
"Where?"
The guards ask.

Back at Gesthemance.
The disciples look on as Chirst falls to his knees in prayer.
Sweating blood.
Pained.
"Save me from the traps thou hast set before me."

Hair dripping.

There is plenty of extra-biblical material.
Sometimes we have merely cinematic gestures that are used in an attempt
to create emotion or further drive home a particular point.
In some cases new material is introduced into the context of the
narrative.
Such would be with the case of Satan in the Garden of Gesthemene.
Casting Satan as a woman; an androgynous woman at that, would be more of
a cinematic choice - artistic license if you will.

Satan speaks to Christ.
"Do you really believe that one man can bear the full burden of sin?"
"No one man can carry this burden. I tell you it is far too heavy.
Saving their souls far too costly. No one ever. No. Never."

Christ continues in his prayers:
"If it is possible lift this chalice from me."
Clouds blot out the moon.
Christ closes eyes as if falling into a trance and collapse to the
ground.

Satan remarks:
"Who is your father? Who are you."
A maggots swirls in the nostril of Satan.
Satan then births a snake which slithers over Christ's hands.
Christ stands giving Satan what I will call "the look."
("the look" will occur many times in the film)
Jesus looks at Satan and then stomps on the snake.
Note: The symbolic act of Christ stomping on the snake would be a
reference to Gen.3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you
will strike his heel.

Disciples approach Christ.
Judas approaches with guards.

Christ: "Who are you looking for?"
Guards: " We are looking for Jesus of Nazareth."
Judas tries to run.
Christ: "I am he."
Judas pushed towards Christ so that he might betray him with a slow
motion kiss. Fighting erupts.
Disciples flee from the guards - are chased through the woods.
Judas flees as well.
Christ stays put.
Peter slices guar's ear.
Other guards are quick to detain him.
Christ heals the man's ear.

This is the point of the movie where the violence begins.
The beating of the Christ; followed by the flogging of the Christ;
followed by the scourging of the Christ; ultimately followed by the
mutilation of the Christ.

The extreme violence is certainly a cinematic convention which Gibson
has chosen to employ to emphasize the full brunt of SIN which Christ
took on for humanity. The extreme violence is not, however, found in
scripture. While immense spiritual pain is alluded to the Bible does
not reveal details of physical torture to the extreme found in this
film.

Christ bound with chains.
A rope is tied around neck.
He is pushed, dragged and eaten.

Cut to scene with Mary, the mother of Christ, and Mary Magdalene.
Mary Mother - "Why is this night different from every other night?"
Magdalene - "...Because we are slaves no longer."
The disciple John breaks into their home with news of Christ's capture.

The two Mary's and John are woven into this Passion as if they were part
of the Gospel narrative. This is certainly not so. Other than their
presence at the end when Christ is mounted on the cross at Golgotha, we
have not scriptural record of the two Mary's whereabouts on the night
Jesus was crucified.

Back to the beating.
Peter slips away.
More excessive physical torture of Christ.
He is tossed over a bridge and nearly strangled.
Under the bridge Judas is hiding.
As Christ dangles he comes face-to-face with his betrayer.
He gives him "the look" before being hauled up by the chains.
Judas then turns to face some beast behind me.
Mores extra-biblical material rolled into this messianic fantasy that
Gibson has brought to the screen.

I would be curious as to what is being said by guards in Aramaic?

Peter lurking in the crowds.
Judges brought into square.
Mary - mother of Jesus is there - finds Peter.
They embrace.
Mary Magdalene pleads to Roman guards.
More cinematic additions to the biblical narrative.

Mary - Jesus' mother - has a flashback.
Jesus working as a carpenter.
Building a table.
Mother asks if he is hungry.
Jesus invents high back chairs.
Joking with mother.

Out of the flashback.
Bloodied and beaten Jesus stares at his mother and Mary Magdelene.
Mary - "It has begun Lord. So be it."
As if she has been privy to God's plan.

Christ presented to Caiphas.
Beaten further in Caiphas' presence.
Peter is in the shadows.
Caiphas - "Defend yourself."
Jesus speaks.
He is beaten for his words.
Christ says - "Why do you hit me."
Accusations about healing and casting out devils.
Caiphas - "He calls himself king of the Jews."
Laughing.
Mocking.
Caiphas spits upon Jesus.
Caiphas taunts about eating Jesus' flesh and blood for salvation.
(How would Jews have been privy to this private exchange between Christ
and his disciples?)
They take turns punching Christ in the face.
Spitting upon him.
Hitting Him.
More of Peter lurking in the shadows.
He ultimately denies Christ amongst the crowds gathered.
Atlernates with shots of Christ being beaten in the background.
Peter makes the third denial.
Christ falls to the ground staring up to give "the look" to Peter.

Flashback to last supper.
Christ tells Peter he will deny him 3 times.

Mary is with some of the disciples.

Judas returns to temple square.
Throws money back at Caiphas.

There are two stories in the Bible of what happens to Judas next. In
one he hangs himself. In another he uses the money to buy a field and
then he dies and his body splits open in the field.

Mel Gibson takes the hanging approach, but ads a demonic twist.

Boys approach Judas.
"Cursing. Are you cursed,"d the boys taunt.
He is spit upon and bitten by these demon boys.
The laugh and scoff at him then chase him out of the city.

Then we cut to yet another narrative invention.
Mother Mary's supernatural ties to Christ.
In the temple yard she senses something.
Side note on the costume of standard issue convent clothing.
Mary sighs and kneels to stones.
Camera takes us beneath the stones to where Christ in shackles.
He looks up sensing his mother above and sighs.

Sunrise in the desert.
Enter the children chasing Judas.
Taunting him.
Trampling upon him.
Satan is there as an eyewitness.
The boys spit upon Judas.
Satan watches.
The children disappear.
Judas' look of despair.
Cut to Judas hanging from tree.

Now this is interesting only that one might ask who prompted Judas to
turn on Christ? If it was Satan, why would he seek to destroy someone
in his service? Certainly God would not employ demonic children to
destroy someone who disobeye Him? Or maybe Gibson is implying that
Judas was under the prompting of God to betray Christ so that the
prophecies would be fulfilled. If this is the case, then Satan would be
upset and seek to punish him. In any case the entire concoction is
extra-biblical.

Christ before Pilot.
Caiphas - "He has seduced the people and taught foul, disgusting
doctrines."
Christ looks up to dove flying in slow mo.
Shots of Christ's battered face.
The right eye is bruised and swolen shut.
Christ is brought before Roman prefect.
Pilate - "Are you the King of Jews?" Your high priests. Your own people
delivered you up to me." Are you king."
Christ - "My kingdom is not of this world." "That is why I was born. To
bear testimony to truth."
Pilate - "Truth (Veritas) what is truth."
The Roman's wife spots Mary in the crowd.
"Take him to Herod."

Herod - "Are you the one whose birth was foretold?" Are you king?" Will
you work a miracle for me?" He's not guilty of a crime - he's just
crazy."

Wife and Pilate.
"What is truth, Claudia?" - Pilate asks. "If I don't condemn this man
Caiphas will start a rebellion..."
News comes that Herod refused to condemn Christ.
Guard - "There is already uprising."

Christ or Barabas.
Caiphas - "He is not the Messiah he is an imposter."
The crowds shout - "Free Barabas."
We get "the look" again - this time Jesus at Barabas.
The crowds cry out to crucify Jesus.
Pilate says to beat him but not to kill him.

The flogging of the Christ.
The guards are crass, laughing like jackals, mocking Christ.
They joke as they ready their whips.
Christ - "...my heart is ready."
Christ bloodied, batted, deep creases in skin.
Crown of thorns.
"King of the Worms" - the guards call him.

Not sure where the "King of the Worms" reference comes from. There is a
place in the Hymns of the Atharva-Veda which reads "11. Slain is the
king of the worms, and their viceroy also is slain. Slain is the worm,
with him his mother slain, his brother slain, his sister slain.12. Slain
are they who are inmates with him, slain are his neighbours; moreover
all the quite tiny worms are slain." Why would Gibson pull this excerpt
from the Fourth Veda, a Hindu text, for use in this Christian allegory?

The two Mary's soak up Christ's blood with rags.

Magdalene flashback.
Throw the first stone.

Note: It is not scriptural that the prostitute being persecuted was
Magdalene. This is a misconception that has been pastured by Hollywood
Jesus films.

Drunk soldiers continue to beat and spit upon the Christ.

The bloodied Christ presented after his beating to Pilate.
Claudia's (Pilate's wife) reaction.
The Mary's reaction.
The crowds continues to chant "Crucify him."
Cut to Christ wheezing.
Pilate - "I have the power to crucify you or set you free."
Christ - "You have no power over me..."
Caiphas - "You must crucify him."
Riot begins to break out.
Wash basin.

Flashback to last supper.
Disciples washing hands.

Pilate washes hands.
"I am innocent of this man's blood."
Shot of wife walking back into residence.

Marching Christ through the city.
Cutaway to Mother Mary (who seems to cross herself).
The two other prisoners being crucified are present as well.
The two prisoners only carry their crossbeams.
Christ - "I am your servant. Your servant and the son of Your handmaid."

Thief - "Why to you embrace your cross."
Christ carries the full cross.
Note: This would NOT have been custom and would have weighed over 300
lbs.
Mary and Magadalene follow.
People throw stones and shout at Christ.

Extreme close ups of eyes.
Cut to flashback of people laying down palm branches in welcome
as Christ entered the city on donkey.
Now contrasted with the jeers and curses.
Shot of Satan moving through crowd.
Intercut with shots of Mary moving through crown.
Jesus toppled over falls upon cross.
Additional beating.
The Mary's run ahead.

Christ falls again.
This time the cross landing on top of him.
Flashback to Jesus falling as a child.
Mary running to get to him.
Cut between her running to the child and her running to Christ now.
She reaches him.
"I'm here" - she cries.
Cut to Mary reaching the child.
Note: Madonna and child pose - as seen in many paintings.
Back to the now.
Christ - "See mother, I make all things new."

More beating.
More scourging.
More cursing and taunting.
More groaning and wheezing from Christ

Young girl.

Cut to Pilate...regret?

More beating.
Christ falls.
Guards pounce upon him and beat him more.
Simon is enlisted to carry cross.

Young girl approaches.
She says - "Permit me lord."
He places face in her cloth leaving an imprinted face print.
Note: Like shroud of Turin.
"Who do you think you are" - asks a soldier of Chirst.
Jesus is beaten all the more.
"Someone stop this" - a woman cries.
Simon the Cyrene shouts to them - "Leave the man alone."
He refuses to carry the cross because of the treatment of Christ.
Christ joins Simon in carrying the cross while the soldiers continue to
beat him.
The procession passes the girl with his face print on her shroud.

The big fall.
Many angles.
Slow motion shots.
Tight shots of face.
Reverse POV shots.
Simon pulls Christ up.
"Come on...We're almost there...It's almost done" - Simon tells Christ.
As if he too understands what is happening.

Flashback to Christ's sermon on the mount.

The scourging never ends.
They arrive at Golgotha.

Flashback again to sermon on the mount.

Big fall 2.
This time face first into the dirt.
Simon face to face with the bloodied Christ.
"The look."
More wheezing and groaning from Christ.

Simon goes away weeping.

Mary's arrive with disciple (John).

Guards - "Get up your highness."

"The look" As Christ and Mary (mother) eyes meet.

Flashback to last supper.
Bread.

Stripped and pushed to the ground.
Kicked as he tries to stand.
Scarred.
Skin torn.
Bloodied.

Flashback.
"There is no great love than for a man to lay down his life for his
friends."

Continual intercutting between the last supper and Christ being nailed
to the cross. Also between Mother Mary's face and Christ's face.

Christ - "Father forgive them."
While he's still being nailed to the cross.
The blood dripping through the other side off the nail.

Same disgusted feeling I felt the

Christ - "Father my Father my God they dont' know what they do."

Mary mother digging her fingers into the gravel.

The cross of Christ flipped over.
Falls face down into the gravel.
Jesus dripping blood as the men hammer in the nail ends back on the
other side.

Dropped again on his back.
Mocked.
Laughed at.
They post the sign.

Cut back to last supper...
Christ - "This is my body..."

Raised up on the cross.
Magdalene looks on.

Mother Mary face shot.
Her hands release the gravel.

Cross dropped into slot.
More painful looks.
Magdalene.

Flashback.
Christ - "This is my blood..."

"The Look" Between Jesus and John.

Caiphas - "If he is the Messiah I say let him come down off the cross so
that we may believe."

Jesus and the criminal who will join him in paradise.
Crow pecks out eyes of the prisoner who does not embrace Christ.

Clouds and Christ and blood dripping down.
Cross and eyes and soldiers playing games.
Storm moves in.

Caiphas confused.
Mary weeps.
Magdalene unsure of what's going on.
Mother Mary allowed to approach Christ.
Kisses his feet.
Blood on her lips.
Christ given a drink.

Mary - "Flesh of my flesh. Heart of my Heart. My son, let me die with
you."

Christ - "Woman behold your son. Son behold your mother." - to John.

Christ - "My God...Why have you forsaken me....It is accomplished."

Bloodied face.
Death of christ.
Shot from heaven.
Like God looking down.
Becomes raindrop which bashes the ground.
Like God's tear.
Causes earthquake.
Warning cries sound.
Temple is ripped apart.

To make sure Christ is dead they stab him.
His blood spews all over Mary.
The soldier kneels and the blood spurts on him as well.

Confusion in the temple.
Caiphas cries as if he realizes what has happened.

Satan screaming from hell.
The shot to cause nightmares.

Christ removed from cross.
Mother comforts.
Pull away shot of Mary with body.

Stone rolled away.
Cloth deflating.
Christ in the flesh sitting there.
Praying.