Staff members of the St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church of Tyrone attended the film, “The Passion of the Christ” yesterday in Altoona.
The group numbering more than a half dozen sat near the front of the theater at the Carmike 8 Cinema. Father Joseph Orr spoke afterwards outside the cinema about the power of the film’s subject, even thousands of years after its occurrence.
“So many people want to see it, and as bad as it makes you feel to watch it, people still keep coming in the thousands to see it,” said Orr. “I think it says something about the strength of Christ drawing upon us.
“So many people are so deeply moved to see something so very few of us would like to experience,” Orr told The Daily Herald.
Orr also spoke about the historical perspective of the film both during and after the viewing.
“The scourging was considered capital punishment; most people died of it. That is why Jesus lasted such a short time on the cross,” said Orr.
“One of the incongruities of the Crucifixion of Christ was that he had already been sentenced to death, and under Roman law you cannot condemn a person a second time.”
Father Orr also spoke of one other historical issue when the film depicted Pontius Pilate washing his hands from a water basin. Orr thought some viewers could misunderstand it.
“You think Pontius Pilate is washing his hands of what is taking place,” explained Orr. “But actually that is a symbol in Roman justice when the judge pronounced sentence he would wash his hands showing although he condemns this person to death, he personally was not responsible for the person’s death. He was simply the judge.”
Some other church staff were too moved or shaken by the movie to offer any thoughts, but two members of the staff did offer some additional perspective.
“Although everyone knows the story, I was still surprised by what an awakening it still is,” said Jamie DiDomenico, the principal at the St. Matthew’s school. “If everyone who watched the movie when they do something wrong would think about the movie, there would probably a lot less evil in the world.”
“When we think of love we sometimes think of it as a pretty thing and yet what I think this shows is love is a harsh reality, love is a sacrifice, love is being willing to pay a price,” commented Sister Karen Duddy.
“Love means being willing to undergo the pain for someone else,” noted Duddy. “It is such a unselfish act that Jesus really chose his strength and Mary’s strength throughout the film which struck me very profoundly They knew something beyond themselves was happening even in the midst of terrible trauma and real agony.”
The Associated Press reported earlier this week the film took in $125.2 million in its first five days and was positioned to get even bigger as the Roman Catholic season of Lent leads up to Easter on April 11.
The box-office total announced Monday by distributor Newmarket Films pushed \”The Passion\” past \”The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King\” ($124.1 million) for biggest debut ever by a film opening on a Wednesday.
The total was almost $8 million more than Newmarket first estimated, because far more people turned out Sunday to see Gibson\’s grisly crucifixion recreation than originally predicted.
“I think we\’ll see strong bookings leading up to Easter, and I would anticipate Easter would be a huge weekend,” said Bruce Davey, Gibson\’s partner at his film company, Icon Productions.
The movie, which stars Jim Caviezel as Christ, has deeply divided religious communities. Church groups have bought out entire theaters for screenings, while some Jewish and Christian leaders say “The Passion” could revive the notion that Jews were collectively responsible for Christ\’s death.
Father Orr made note of the controversy at the conclusion of his remarks to the group after viewing the 1:30 p.m. showing of the film.
“All I can say is if any one coming out of the movie thinking that it justifies malice toward anyone else didn’t understand it at all,” said Orr.
From a financial standpoint “The Passion” ultimately could take in between $300 million and $350 million in the United States and Canada alone,” said Rob Schwartz, head of distribution for Newmarket.
On the local level, the film continues to play to strong crowds with a near sellout at the 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon showing. Patrons were also lined up to enter the next showing when the first showing of the day ended.
The movie also opened in Australia and New Zealand on Ash Wednesday and is gradually debuting worldwide. Through March and April, \”The Passion\” will open in such countries as Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Mexico and most of South America.
According to an Associated Press article written by AP movie writer David Germain Gibson\’s movie embodies the most basic definition of the independent film. Though its $25 million budget (paid entirely by Gibson) is far larger than most indies, “The Passion” is a personal vision offered up without the slightest concession to mainstream tastes or box-office commerce.
The film succeeded through Gibson\’s brilliant marketing strategy. He sold his vision from the ground up by selectively screening the movie for like-minded church leaders, who spread the buzz to congregations nationwide.
When some Jewish and Christian groups complained that the movie could foster anti-Semitism, Gibson largely stepped back and let the debate rage.
It probably was a blessing in disguise for Gibson that Hollywood would not touch the film. Conventional studio marketing never could have provided the free ride of publicity “The Passion” received from all the headlines and media commentary.
“You\’ve got to have the madness to step outside the system, and he did,” said Peter Bardazzi, director of new media development at New York University, who saw “The Passion” on opening day. “I won\’t say it\’s a work of art myself, this movie, but he caused more controversy outside the system than anyone has in the last 20 years.”
Because “The Passion” was a personal quest by Gibson, Hollywood observers doubt big studios will jump on the bandwagon with their own religious sagas.
“I hate to underestimate Hollywood\’s ability to imitate, but I kind of think that these executives realize that there is a unique alignment of the stars with this picture,” said Kim Masters, an entertainment correspondent for National Public Radio. “I think Mel could easily decide to do more of these, and he would be guaranteed a certain return. But not necessarily on this level.”
(The Associated Press contributed to this article.)
