NOVI, MI - This movie
takes a look at them traumatic, gruesome execution of Christ through the eyes
of a Roman soldier. It is grim. At times you will not want to look at the
screen because of the lack of humanity and compassion. It is hard to fathom life like this on a day to day basis. Even
though you know it is just a film you cannot tear your eyes away from the
screen. Between the ugliness, the grit, and the senseless brutality there is
forgiveness and beauty.
The story centers on Clavius, (Joseph Clavius) , a Roman Centurian
soldier, who is callous, crude and violent. Above all he is committed to the
Roman Empire and to Caeser. He wanders
through the wilderness and his lips are cracked from the blistering heat and
lack of water. That is how the film opens and I cannot figure out where he is
coming from. He staggers to a lone house and makes his way in. He is processing
the events that have changed his life. He is trying to make sense of it.
Clavius has been through a historic ride and has come face to face with Christ.
From there the film rolls backwards and shows the brutal
life of Clavius and his role in the crucifixion. The story has been told many
times on film but this time there is another dimension of suffering and
darkness. That comes through in the audio. This is the only time I can remember
hearing flies buzzing around at Golgotha, the place of the Skull, the site of
the crucifixion. You do not have to be introduced to the characters to know who
they are. Instantly you can recognize Mary, Jesus’ mother and Mary Magdelene.
They are wrought with tears and are inconsolable. It is a deep eternal sadness
that they – and the rest of the world – has never known. Your heart will sink
at the sight of them. The crucified men around Jesus are actually crying in
agony. They are not the stoic actors in previous adaptations. Clavius and his
men are watching the “proceedings” and are showing no emotion. It is just
another day at the office for them. There is an earthquake and a large crack appears in the palace walls.
I know by this point I have stepped into dangerous waters.
This wouldn’t be like the other films I have seen.
This latest offering is from director Kevin Reynolds,
(Waterword, Robin Hood Prince of Theives) and he takes us into a very
introspective journey that is all too real. You really feel like you are there
with the people. Something catastrophic has occurred. Jesus Christ was executed
by the people, there was a mob in the streets, and disciple Judas Iscariot had
killed himself. Those scenes are not
illustrated here in this production but that is the history. You can feel them
– mere echoes in the films silent moments. Clavius has to wrestle with all of these events in his moments of quiet
thoughts and anguish. He is living in some sort of circus….. a bad dream… and
he is in the center of it. Pontius Pilate wants answers because something else
has gone wrong. The body of Christ has disappeared from the tomb.
Why is this a big deal?
With the body of Christ missing it will only add to the
belief that he has truly risen up to Heaven. This is going to create a
disruption in the balance of power. There will be more believers there will be
more people wanting to turn to the ways of Christ. This is bad for the Roman
Empire. The thought here is that some of
the Christians had come in the night and have stolen the body. Clavius returns
to the scene of the crime. The tomb is indeed empty and something or someone
has rolled back the enormous stone wheel that guards the tomb. Inside of the
empty tomb is the Shroud of Turin. The ropes that sealed the tomb, along with
the red wax seal of the Empire, has been ripped to pieces. The ropes were not
cut but looked as if they had burst apart. This is the only time I have seen
this scenario played out as an investigative crime scene.
The guards who were hired to watch the body of Christ were
tracked down at a local pub. It is there that Clavius learns what really
happened the night Christ was taken from the tomb. There is a story about a
great light and strong beings that ripped the rope into pieces. These are
mighty angels. The guard telling the story is emotional as he is telling of how
helpless he was against this mighty force. They took the body and went up
leaving the tomb empty. Clavius has to go back to Pilate with this story. The clock is ticking here and Pilate is under
scrutiny from not only the local Pharisees but from Ceaser who is coming to
inspect the events for himself. These individuals demand to see a physical
body.
The scenes that follow come to us from the various moments
in the Gospel. Clavius tracks down the living Disciples who are in hiding and
there he comes across the living Lord…. Restored, smiling and welcoming. There are no signs of the traumatized figure
we see in the beginning of the film but a renewed person.
We start to examine our own consciousness to the Christ
story as an audience. We identify our own short comings of belief in various
instances of these incredible events. At which point do we stop believing? What
parts do we accept as undeniable truth? And more importantly, where do we as
individuals draw the line? Or, do we go all the way and follow the message and
even go as far as to live the message? We are part Clavius too in this flim. We
approach the impossible through his eyes and are on the journey. But just how
far are you as an audience member prepared to go?
It is one thing to read the Gospel and the New Testament for
yourself and another thing to see its most gruesome parts reenacted. We see
bodies dug up from lime pits in various states of decomposition and see rotting
flesh and bone as the search continues for the body of Christ. We are also
confronted with a real case of a leper. Again, it is one thing to read about
them but another to see one recreated for the film. I couldn’t fathom the
monstrosity of the person depicted in the film. I wasn’t prepared to see people
throw stones at this person and scream obscenities and for the lack of
humanity. Christ walked up to the man and placed his hands on him and healed
him completely. A face that wasn’t even recognizable had transformed to someone
who was humble and grateful. Claviius is bewildered and continues to walk with
the group.
Christ disappears from time to time during this reunion.
Sometimes he appears on the beach where he tells his men, “try throwing your
net on the right side of the boat”. It is there they catch enough fish to feed
an army. This type of appearance happens to those who study His Word. God and
Christ are one and will appear to you at the most unexpected times. The faithful will always be on the lookout
for him to show up as he is still doing this today.
Clavius sits on a sand dune with Christ looking up at the
stars while the other men are sleeping. Jesus is smiling and looking up at the
starry sky and asks, “What troubles you?”. How can we as audience relate to this question along with Clavius. Most
of us have never killed anyone or have done the horrible things Clavius has
done as a Centurian soldier. But all of us have something that we need to
correct or fix to be in alignment with the Almighty. That question can go out
to us as well. At what part of the film are we spectators and at what part do
we become participants?
The message was profound then. It is profound now. God’s
message never changes. This generation needs to be reintroduced to His Holy
Grace. This film is part of a new wave of Christian based films that are full
of hope, message, and life changing information if we are willing to accept it. As brutal as the narrative is there is
incredible beauty and depth in here. This film invites a second viewing.
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