The Passion of the Christ

Directed by Mel Gibson
Starring:James Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Claudia Gerini
2004

The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 film co-written, co-produced and directed by Mel Gibson. It is based primarily on biblical accounts of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, events commonly known as "The Passion". The film’s dialogue is in Aramaic, Latin, and Hebrew, with subtitles. It was filmed in Matera, Italy and Cinecittà Studios, Rome.

To produce The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson spent some forty to fifty million dollars of his money to finance and advertise it. Aside from being its co-producer and director, he is the co-screenplay writer with Benedict Fitzgerald. Given the heavy Christian message, the very explicit violence, and the polyglot soundtrack (Aramaic, Latin, Hebrew), it was difficult to find an American distribution company; the film was completed before Newmarket Films agreed to release it in the U.S. Equinox Films was the Canadian distributor, and Icon Films the British and Australian distributor.

In The Passion: Photography from the Movie "The Passion of the Christ", Gibson says:

"This is a movie about love, hope, faith, and forgiveness. He [Jesus] died for all mankind, suffered for all of us. It's time to get back to that basic message. The world has gone nuts. We could all use a little more love, faith, hope, and forgiveness.

It was me that put him on the cross. It was my sins [who / that put him there]".

Gibson makes an appearance in the film, in close-up only: his hands nail Jesus to the cross.