Co-producer, co-writer, and director Mel Gibson’s R-rated, self-financed, independent smash-hit film, a brutal depiction of Jesus’ last 12 hours on Earth, stirred up considerable controversy. It was filmed with dialogue in three languages (Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin) with subtitles, and although Gibson claimed that the account was authentic and ‘truthful’ – it would be nearly impossible to derive a strict and true historical account of the events from the Gospels. The scourging (a 10-minute sequence) and crucifixion scenes in particular were overpoweringly graphic, bloody, torturous and vicious. Even Gibson admitted that the film was deliberately “shocking” and “extreme” in order to depict Jesus’ enormous sacrifice.
