The Passion of the Christ

A movie review By Michelle E. Malik

 The Passion of the Christ is a fantastically stark, beautifully crafted depiction of the most inspiring story of all time. Bloodshed is not wasted on the devoted followers of a man who lived his life wholly for his Father and for a sinful world. For only in Jesus’ unbridled strife can we understand how powerful his selfless acceptance of worldly suffering is for the salvation of the world. Mel Gibson’s amazing vision and direction then, mark his unrivaled capacity to evoke the force of human emotion rather than exploit violence for its own sake. The cast rendering of humble figures like Jesus himself, embodied by the exceptional Jim Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern as his beloved mother Mary, Monica Belucci as the repentant Mary Magdalene, Hristo Shopov as Pilate, and Hristo Jivkov as the Apostle John, among many others, captures a difficult period in religious history with sentimental intensity. While the cruelty is almost too much to bear at times throughout Jesus’ journey to Calvary, the film offers a sense of spiritual deliverance well worth its weight in silver, the ransom for Jesus unforgettable life.