Paul Harvey's Movie Review of the Passion
Subject: Paul Harvey's comments on "The Passion"
>by Mel Gibson
>
>
> The majority of the media are complaining about
>this movie. Now Paul
> Harvey tells "The rest of the story" and David
>Limbaugh praises Gibson.
>
> Most people would wait and see a movie before
>giving the reviews that
> have been issued by the reporters trying to tell
>all of us what to
> believe.
>
> Paul Harvey's words:
>
> I really did not know what to expect. I was
>thrilled to have been
> invited to a private viewing of Mel Gibson's film
>"The Passion," but I
> had also read all the cautious articles and spin.
>I grew up in a Jewish
> town and owe much of my own faith journey to the
>influence. I have a
> life long, deeply held aversion to anything that
>might even indirectly
> encourage any form of anti-Semitic thought,
>language or actions.
>
> I arrived at the private viewing for "The
>Passion", held in Washington
> DC and greeted some familiar faces. The
>environment was typically
> Washingtonian, with people greeting you with a
>smile but seeming to look
> beyond you, having an agenda beyond the words. The
>film was very briefly
> introduced, without fanfare, and then the room
>darkened.
>
> From the gripping opening scene in the Garden of
>Gethsemane, to the very
> human and tender portrayal of the earthly ministry
>of Jesus, through the
> betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the way of
>the cross, the encounter
> with the thieves, the surrender on the Cross,
>until the final scene in
> the empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it
>was an encounter, unlike
> anything I have ever experienced.
>
> In addition to being a masterpiece of film-making
>and an artistic
> triumph, "The Passion" evoked more deep
>reflection, sorrow and emotional
> reaction within me than anything since my wedding,
>my ordination or the
> birth of my children. Frankly, I will never be the
>same.
>
> When the film concluded, this "invitation only"
>gathering of "movers and
> shakers" in Washington, DC were shaking indeed,
>but this time from
> sobbing. I am not sure there was a dry eye in the
>place. The crowd that
> had been glad-handing before the film was now
>eerily silent. No one
> could speak because words were woefully
>inadequate. We had experienced a
> kind of art that is a rarity in life, the kind
>that makes heaven touch
> earth.
>
> One scene in the film has now been forever etched
>in my mind. A
> brutalized, wounded Jesus was soon to fall again
>under the weight of the
> cross. His mother had made her way along the Via
>Della Rosa. As she ran
> to him, she flashed back to a memory of Jesus as a
>child, falling in the
> dirt road outside of their home. Just as she
>reached to protect him from
> the fall, she was now reaching to touch his
>wounded adult face. Jesus
> looked at her with intensely probing and
>passionately loving eyes (and
> at all of us through the screen) and said "Behold
>I make all things
> new."
>
> These are words taken from the last Book of the
>New Testament, the Book
> of Revelations. Suddenly, the purpose of the pain
>was so clear and the
> wounds, that earlier in the film had been so
>difficult to see in His
> face, His back, indeed all over His body, became
>intensely beautiful.
> They had been borne voluntarily for love.
>
> At the end of the film, after we had all had a
>chance to recover, a
> question and answer period ensued. The unanimous
>praise for the film,
> from a rather diverse crowd, was as astounding as
>the compliments were
> effusive. The questions included the one question
>that seems to follow
> this film, even though it has not yet even been
>released. "Why is this
> film considered by some to be "anti-Semitic?"
>
> Frankly, having now experienced (you do not "view"
>this film) "The
> Passion" it is a question that is impossible to
>answer. A law professor
> whom I admire sat in front of me. He raised his
>hand and responded
> "After watching this film, I do not understand how
>anyone can insinuate
> that it even remotely presents that the Jews
>killed Jesus. It doesn't."
> He continued "It made me realize that my sins
>killed Jesus" .
>
> I agree. There is not a scintilla of anti-Semitism
>to be found anywhere
> in this powerful film. If there were, I would be
>among the first to
> decry it. It faithfully tells the Gospel story in
>a dramatically
> beautiful, sensitive and profoundly engaging way.
>Those who are alleging
> otherwise have either not seen the film or have
>another agenda behind
> their protestations.
>
> This is not a "Christian" film, in the sense that
>it will appeal only to
> those who identify themselves as followers of
>Jesus Christ. It is a
> deeply human, beautiful story that will deeply
>touch all men and women.
> It is a profound work of art. Yes, its producer
>is a Catholic Christian
> and thankfully has remained faithful to the Gospel
>text; if that is no
> longer acceptable behavior than we are all in
>trouble. History demands
> that we remain faithful to the story and
>Christians have a right to tell
> it. After all, we believe that it is the greatest
>story ever told and
> that its message is for all men and women. The
>greatest right is the
> right to hear the truth.
>
> We would all be well advised to remember that the
>Gospel narratives to
> which "The Passion" is so faithful were written by
>Jewish men who
> followed a Jewish Rabbi whose life and teaching
>have forever changed the
> history of the world. The problem is not the
>message but those who have
> distorted it and used it for hate rather than
>love. The solution is not
> to censor the message, but rather to promote the
>kind of gift of love
> that is Mel Gibson's film making masterpiece, "The
>Passion."
>
> It should be seen by as many people as possible. I
>intend to do
> everything I can to make sure that is the case. I
>am passionate about
> "The Passion." You will be as well. Don't miss
>it!
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