Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church - about Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ"

On February 29, 2004, in the Russian View program, it was reported that the Russian premiere of Mel Gibson's already sensational film The Passion of the Christ was scheduled by distributors for Thursday on Holy Week. The representative of the distributors stressed that he would like all Orthodox to watch this film.

Fr. Vsevolod Chaplin, who said that even if the film is very good (and he has not seen it yet), its screening during Holy Week will not be understood by believers. More about. Vsevolod recommended that businessmen first consult, so as not to hurt the feelings of believers.

Why exactly believers will be offended, Fr. Vsevolod did not explain.

In the same program, Nikolai Burlyaev, a well-known Orthodox-patriotic cinematographer, spoke in support of the screening of this film. And deacon Andrei Kuraev spoke out against it, since it seems to him that the identification of Christ with the actor performing him is dangerous for the soul.

"Russian view". February 29, 2004

In March, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church told reporters that Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ "is appropriate to show in Russia." In particular, Abbot Daniil (Ishmatov) - a former film director, head of the Biblical Department of the Orthodox St. Tikhon Theological Institute Andrei Tretyakov, chairman of the Union of Orthodox Citizens Valentin Lebedev - participated in the preview of the picture.

"A work of high art", "a new stage in the screening of gospel stories" - this is how hegumen Daniel commented on Gibson's film. Lebedev does not recommend watching this film to children and people with hypersensitivity, since the scene of the crucifixion is shown in an overly naturalistic way. "Let them watch Zefirelli better," he says.

Excessive naturalism, according to A. Tretyakov, is explained by the close attention of the Old Catholics, from whose family the director comes, to the "sensual side of the event." The chairman of the "Radonezh" society, however, believes that "in fact, it was even more terrible," and Gibson "did not succeed in showing the God-Man Christ."

Anti-Semitism, in which many blame the film in the West, was not seen by Orthodox experts.

The final "opinion of the Church will be expressed by His Holiness the Patriarch," the participants of the press conference decided.

Sources

• ORTHODOX FILM STUDIES: THE FILM "THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST" IS APPROPRIATE TO SHOW IT IN RUSSIA // NEWSINFO.RU 2004. MARCH 18.
• REPORT: Through the eyes of Pontius Pilate. Show of "The Passion of the Christ" starts in Moscow // Portal-Credo.ru. 2004. March 19.