Agonizing over 'Passion'

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer

Simon of Cyrene (Jarreth Merz) helps Jesus (Jim Caviezel) carry his cross in "The Passion of the Christ," opening today. Newmarket Films

"I didn't know it was that strong," Valiente said. If she had known how violent it was, she might not have allowed them to watch it, and she cautions other parents to think twice, especially if their children are young.

"Maybe when they're 12 to 15 years old" is a reasonable age, the mom suggests.

Valiente is not alone in her concerns. While clergy across Hawai'i are planning to take whole congregations to see the film, many pastors suggest leaving children at home and caution that the film may not be appropriate for children under 12 because of its graphic violence.

The movie's "R" rating restricts viewing to those 17 and older, unless accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. So, parents can choose to bring their children, and when a group rents a theater, as many church congregations are, the guest list is up to that group.

Cal Takara, associate pastor at Kaimuki Christian Church, is planning to let his 17-year-old daughter see Mel Gibson's movie, starring James Caviezel, but he's not so sure about bringing his 15-year-old daughter.

"We're still thinking it through," said Takara, who saw the movie in its unscored, unedited rough cut in December. "Our major concern is the graphic nature of the flogging and crucifixion. ... The scourging and crucifixion is as close to reality as anything I've ever seen. It's very intense in the pain and duration."

First Presbyterian senior pastor Dan Chun let his daughter, a high school senior, and his 15-year-old son see "Passion" in December. His church purchased 200 tickets for an advance screening last night.

"The sooner people see it, the sooner they can make up their own minds," said Chun, a father of three. "I'm not worried about the content. It is rated R, though. It's not normal that a pastor recommends R-rated movies."

Jerry Tokars, a Roman Catholic deacon-in-training, has decided he is going to let his youngest son, Eric, age 12, watch the movie. "He's been brought up with Christianity, and I want him to see the historical situation, the true picture of Christ," the Kailua father of three said.

Pastor Bill Stonebraker at Calvary Chapel is asking the parents in his flock to use their discretion. "Due to its graphic nature, we (recommend it) with caution," Stonebraker said. "You don't want to bring young kids. It's not for 12 and under."

Glory Yoshida, an administrative assistant at Hope Chapel who is planning to take in the movie with her husband, is bracing herself. She cried just hearing her pastor, who viewed it at the December screening, talk about it.

"I know I'm gonna cry through the whole thing," she said. "I cried at 'Prince of Egypt' (an animated DreamWorks movie about Moses). I said, 'Uh-oh, I'm gonna be in big trouble at this one.' "

Hope Chapel is reimbursing members for tickets, but also are urging parents to use caution.

"We've been told it's a very graphic description of Jesus' life," said Yoshida. "We've told people, 'Don't bring kids.' Some adults can't handle (the film) either."

Takara at Kaimuki Christian said he wants his older daughter, almost 18, to experience the passion story in all its THX and digital-video glory, because it helps bring the Jesus story to life "in the person of who he is and what he suffered."

Nick Gilbert, 14, was in the audience for Monday night's screening. He's no stranger to R-rated movies (he saw "The Matrix" recently) and felt he was braced for the graphic nature of "The Passion." "It's a Christian movie," he said Monday night, before the screening.

The day after, the home-schooled eighth-grader wasn't planning to see the movie twice.

"I don't think he'd go back for a second time. It was very long," said his father, Dan Yeager, a missionary with Youth With a Mission. "Kids today are interested in action movies, and this is a drama."

Parents of teenagers know that today's world is more violent, said Yeager. "When our kids were small, we had to tell them about strangers and improper touching," he said.

"These days, they know about O.J. and Janet Jackson. Our kids today are mature kids. They had Columbine. They're pretty sophisticated.

"What age do you stop sheltering them from reality?"

Yeager doesn't think he'll go back either, though someone at his church, Hawaii Kai Church, is offering free Sunday matinee tickets for its members.

It isn't the violence that holds Yeager back, however.

He said other movies have shown not just the passion but the compassion of Christ, and this one didn't.

"I saw compassion in Mary Magdalene. ... I saw the compassion in the wife of Herod, who gave the cloth (to clean up Jesus' blood). ... I've seen it done better in other movies. It didn't bring out the tears, nor did I hear the cheers in the end. People weren't spellbound."

He's uncertain whether "The Passion of the Christ" will be effective as an evangelizing tool.

"Did his true representation of Christ's compassion come through as I experienced, onscreen? No. I wasn't brought to tears as I was by my relationship with Christ," he said. "This story really isn't about compassion, but the (experience that Jesus) went through.

"I didn't see this as a story about compassion at all. I don't gloss over what he went through. I see it now. This is quite traumatic, the way that the writers and directors represented their reality."

As for age-appropriateness, Yeager would limit it to viewings by middle school and high school students.

"But then, read the book," Yeager said, "because the book is always better than the movie."

Reach Mary Kaye Ritz at mritz@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8035.