Last year I had the most meaningful Lent of my life, for two reasons. One, because it was my first Lent as a priest — I was ordained in Rome, on Christmas Eve, 2003. Two, because I had spent much of the previous twelve months, off and on, with Mel Gibson and the cast and crew of The Passion of The Christ — an experience that ended up giving rise to the book Inside the Passion.
A Profoundly Enriching Journey
I was studying theology in Rome while they were filming. A fellow seminarian had met Jim Caviezel (the actor who played Jesus) through a mutual friend and invited him to drop by the seminary. He looked odd. They had shaved half of his head (the front half) to make room for the wig and makeup, and it gave him a rather barbaric air. But his eyes shone with sincerity and contagious enthusiasm when we talked about the film. Hours passed like minutes. He invited us to come out to the set and watch the remarkable project in action. That was my first step on what turned out to be a stirring, profoundly enriching journey into the making of this cinematic masterpiece.
I never had an official role in the movie. In fact, they had already filmed more than half of it before I met Jim. But as a Catholic seminarian on the verge of priestly ordination, I was eager to stick my nose into everything I could. I watched them choreograph the flagellation; I observed, mesmerized, as Gibson orchestrated the brilliant flashbacks; I flinched at Jim writhing on the cross as the soldiers pounded the spikes into his hands and feet (it took a lot of pounding to get that scene right).
I had a sense — everyone working on the film had a sense — that this was no ordinary movie. The more I got into it, the more that sense grew.
Why a Book?
A few months after the filming, Mel began screening an initial version of the movie. He wanted to let people see it and quell critics’ fears. When he was back in Rome rerecording some of the dialogue, I attended one of those early screenings, the one for the cast and crew in Cinecittà (the Hollywood of Rome). We went in to the theatre smiling and chatting. We came out deeply moved, shaken to the roots. We hung around the studio afterwards for a long while, talking, digesting, reflecting.
That’s when a priest friend of mine had the idea for a book. The film had stunned and amazed the cast and crew — many of whom were not Christian believers — and we were convinced it would do the same for audiences everywhere. It was a rare spiritual and artistic triumph. But it operated on so many levels; the dramatic and theological fabrics were woven together so delicately and intricately. Why not put together a book to serve as a kind of tour guide for this intriguing, captivating work of art, something that could help viewers — both those who loved the film and those who were perplexed by it — dig deeper into it?
We proposed the idea to Mel. At first he was reluctant. The movie itself said everything he wanted to say; if he had wanted to write a book, he would have written a book. But we pointed out that other great works of art, like the Sistine ceiling or St. Peter’s Basilica, often remain impressive, but partially inaccessible. People want to understand them more fully — even believers — but they need a guide to explain the symbols and the artists’ intentions. Such explanations aren’t belittling; they’re enriching. OK, he said. Give it a shot.
Take the Tour
That was in October, 2004. I left Rome then, to spend time with Mel and his team in Los Angeles, interviewing, observing, and taking copious notes. For four months I followed them around — the sound studio, the editing room, the special effects department, the car, the private screenings. The more I saw and learned, the more amazed I became. The more I delved into the film, the more I loved it, and the more it helped me enter into Christ’s Passion. My desire to share all that I was discovering became a passion in itself — especially as the controversy intensified; the book would help people understand the reasons behind Mel’s choices.
It took longer than I thought to refine the manuscript, though judging by the reactions of those who have read it, the wait was worthwhile. But it’s not the book that’s important; it just enhances one’s experience of the movie — of this arresting, haunting, absorbing artistic representation of the fulcrum of human history. Like every great work of art, it’s worth reflecting on, it’s worth taking a tour of, it’s worth going back to again and again and again.
Fr. John Bartunek received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Stanford University in 1990, graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He spent a year as a professional actor in Chicago before entering the Legionaries of Christ, a religious congregation. He is currently studying for an advanced degree in moral theology in Rome, where he resides. You can write to him at [email protected].
Deepen your journey into the unforgettable film, The Passion of The Christ, with the only authorized book that goes behind the scenes. Fr. John Bartunek, L.C., provides biblical, historical, and theological insights gleaned from hours spent on the set and interviews with the director, actors, and filmmaking crew. Inside the Passion is the most complete and thorough commentary on the movie you will read. Foreword by Mel Gibson. Click here for more information or to order.
