Passion of the Christ, The (ATOM Study Guide)

The Passion of the Christ (Mel Gibson, 2004) is a film about the trial and execution of Jesus and told in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The film opens in an olive grove, the Garden of Gethesemane, where Jesus has gone to pray after the Last Supper. Jesus resists Satan's temptations to turn back.

Betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus is arrested and taken back to within the city walls of Jerusalem where the leaders of the Pharisees confront him with accusations of blasphemy and his trial results in a condemnation to death. Jesus is brought before Pilate, the Roman Governor of Palestine, who listens to the accusations levelled at him by the Pharisees. Realising he is dealing with a political conflict, Pilate defers to King Herod in the matter. Herod returns Jesus to Pilate who gives the crowd a choice between Jesus and the criminal Barabbas. The crowd chooses to have Barabbas set free and to condemn Jesus. Jesus is handed over to Roman soldiers and flagellated.

Unrecognisable now, he is brought back before Pilate, who presents him to the crowd as if to say 'Is this not enough?' It is not. Pilate washes his hands of the entire dilemma, ordering his men to do as the crowd wishes. Jesus is presented with the cross and is ordered to carry it through the streets of Jerusalem all the way up to Golgotha. On Golgotha, Jesus is nailed to the cross and undergoes his last trial – the fear that he has been abandoned by his Father. He overcomes his fear, looks at Mary, his mother, and makes the pronouncement, 'It is accomplished'. He then dies: 'Into your [God's] hands I commit my Spirit.'

In making this film, Gibson has declared that his aim was to stress the humanity of Jesus, and to bring home the terrible reality of Jesus' suffering and crucifixion. In choosing this emphasis, Gibson has created a representation of Jesus and the last twelve hours of his life that raises many issues and explores many themes.

Curriculum Links:

This study guide provides a set of activities and questions to help students analyse and appreciate the film. The themes and activities developed in this study guide will have relevance for students from years 10-12 studying Religious Studies, Cultural Studies, Studies of Society and Environment, History, English and Media Studies.