Mel Gibson, one of the brightest stars in Hollywood, shocked many in the Hollywood community by his decision to invest over 25 million dollars of his own money in a film with the avowed goal of portraying a realistic and somewhat accurate depiction of the suffering (the passion) of Christ in the last 12 hours of His life. Not only was the topic itself taboo in the Hollywood community, but the film is presented entirely in Hebrew, Latin, and Aramaic (with English subtitles) in order to maintain the authentic feel of the events. Critics have said that it could not be done, that it should not be done, and that it would result in financial failure. The critics have been proved wrong.

Although known primarily for his acting roles, Mr. Gibson is also the co-founder of Icon Productions, a commercially successful Hollywood production company. In this role, Gibson has produced or directed numerous films including We Were Soldiers, Anna Karenina, Hamlet, and the award-winning presentation of the life of  Scottish hero William Wallace, Braveheart, in which he also starred.

Currently, Mel Gibson is widely known as a man with strong family values. He and his wife, Robyn, have been married for 23 years and are the parents to seven lovely children: Hannah, 22; twins Edward and Christian, 21; William, 19; Luis, 16; Milo, 13; and Thomas, 4. Mr. Gibson reportedly believes in rearing his children with a strong ethical code and they are expected to do regular chores as children and to hold normal jobs as teenagers. Apparently, even having a parent who is a celebrity provides no escape.

Mr. Gibson describes himself as a "Traditionalist Catholic," one who rejects the councils of the Vatican II, and prefers that masses be conducted in Latin. He also holds strongly to the concept of the Bible as the literal word of God, a view that has earned him contempt by many Catholics and Protestants alike. Oddly enough, Gibson, 47, shares a January 3 birthday with another famous Traditionalist Catholic whose works have also influenced the world in recent days: J.R.R. Tolkien.

Many will disagree with key points of Mr. Gibson's Catholic theology. We cannot necessarily endorse his theology nor every film he has produced or in which he has acted. However, there is no denying the courage that he has shown in producing this particular film, The Passion of the Christ, in the current Hollywood environment. Neither can one deny his own personal passion in portraying this pivotal event in the redemption of mankind.

Mr. Gibson kindly consented to an interview with The Old Schoolhouse Magazine in the midst of his hectic publicity schedule. He did not answer questions posed to him about his own childhood or his own views on homeschooling, but did answer questions about the film.

TOS: Mr. Gibson, I wanted to ask you a few questions about your new film, The Passion of the Christ. What did you use as the basis for the account in this film?

MEL GIBSON: I did an immense amount of reading. I consulted a huge number of theologians, and scholars-I studied the scriptures. I drank in all of that information and thought about it; I meditated on it, and gradually the film took shape in my mind.

The film is faithful to the Gospels, but I had to fill in a lot of detail, and that's where my own meditation came into play. I also found that a lot of experts disagreed about historical details - like the way Jesus would have carried His cross, or whether the nails went through the palms of His hands or His wrists, or whether Pilate would have spoken Aramaic. Since the experts cancelled each other out, I was thrown back on my own resources to weigh the different arguments and decide for myself.

TOS: I have read that you invested your own money for this project and that many consider this to be a risky move for you in your career. What do you hope to accomplish with this film?

MEL GIBSON: I hope it makes people think. I hope it makes them reflect. The movie is about faith, hope, love, and forgiveness. If it stirs those things up in people, it will be a success. I hope it makes people ask questions, and maybe even make them want to read (or re-read) 'the book.'    

TOS: I understand that this film received an "R" rating for violence and brutality. Many of our readers will not usually watch an R-rated movie. Why should this movie be an exception?

MEL GIBSON: I tried to make it as realistic as possible; I wanted the audience to feel like they were really there, witnessing the events as they had actually happened.

The movie isn't about the Resurrection; it's about the Passion, the suffering of the Christ. You need to see the Resurrection, because that shows that Christ was who He claimed to be. It also demonstrates that love is stronger than death, which is why Jesus was able to endure so much suffering without giving in to despair or revenge. But it's the Passion, the suffering that really matters. My wounds were healed by His wounds; I had to tell the story of those wounds.

TOS: I have read that you began to "re-examine your faith" after an experience 13 years ago when your lifestyle choices and addictions had caused you to hit rock bottom. Could you tell me about that?

MEL GIBSON: About 13 years ago I came to a difficult point in my life, and meditating on Christ's sufferings, on His Passion, got me through it. Life is hard, and we all get wounded by it - I was no exception. I went to the wounds of Christ in order to cure my wounds. And when I did that, through reading, and studying, and meditating, and praying, I began to see in my own mind what He really went through. I began to understand it as I never had before, even though I had heard the story so many times.

TOS: Mr. Gibson, if this film is commercially successful, does Icon Productions plan to make other similar films in the future?

MEL GIBSON: The story of the suffering of Christ is the biggest adventure story of all time-the biggest love story of all time. God becoming man and man killing God. If that's not action, then nothing is. However, there are still plenty of stories worth telling. I don't think I'm finished trying to tell them in film. This story of Christ's suffering and death is, in my opinion, the greatest story, the greatest heroism, but that doesn't mean other brands and manifestations of heroism have nothing to say to us.

Amelia Harper is the owner of HomeScholar Books and the author of Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings , a complete one-year literature curriculum for secondary level students. She is also a freelance writer who contributes regularly to newspapers, academic works, and magazines, and serves as the Contributing Media Editor for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. She is also a pastor's wife and the homeschooling mother of five. Visit her website at www.HomeScholarBooks.com