In the land where its subject lived and died two millennia ago, Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" has yet to receive an official screening. It's not because the Israeli censors who once banned Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ" for fear of upsetting Christian sensibilities have also looked unfavorably on "Passion." Rather, it is because local distributors, fearful of offending Jewish sensitivities, have declined to pick up the film.
One distributor not normally known for being cautious, says, "No one will pick up this film because it deals with hard issues, and the distributors don't want to hurt people's feelings."
The distributor, who admits to not having seen "Passion," blames the Israeli media for perpetuating the idea that the film is anti-Semitic.
The film receives regular screenings at the Cinematheque in the Palestinian Authority town of Ramallah, just a few miles from Jerusalem, and many illegal copies are available in Arab enclaves such as Jaffa and Jerusalem's Old City.
One Israeli Jew who has seen Gibson's film is Alon Garbuz, director of the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, who watched it on DVD.
"I don't think Mel Gibson did it on purpose, but the Jews do not behave so well in the movie," he reports, "and I can understand that the results could provoke reactions against the Jews by people who don't know history."
'Religious people ... would be offended'
Recently, however, Israelis have been able to enjoy an alternative cinematic portrayal of Christ and His family, courtesy of actor-writer-producer-director Assi Dayan.
"The Gospel According to God" will do nothing to harm Dayan's reputation as an enfant terrible. It transports God and His family to modern-day Israel and follows a reluctant Jesus as he prepares for a rerun of His crucifixion and resurrection, which His wearying Father hopes will finally bring peace on Earth.
Dayan, in a rare interview, claims, "It is not supposed to be provocative. It's against us, for believing in God and His Son. It's for intelligent people. Religious people -- Christians and Jews -- would be offended," he says. Dayan himself portrays God as lonely, lovesick and very human. "I'm cheap. I was available. I was on the spot," he quips.
Viewers could be forgiven for thinking that "The Gospel According to God" is intended as a riposte to Gibson's movie. But Dayan points out, "I started the film two years ago. I had no idea of (Gibson's) film," he explains. "I am attracted to theology, which I studied at university. But I don't believe in God."
But Israelis will finally get a chance to see Gibson's version of history in September if Garbuz's efforts to screen the movie in Tel Aviv -- the most secular of Israeli cities -- are successful.
Professors are lining up to take part in panel discussions on Judaism, Christianity and Islam that Garbuz is planning, together with a specially convened symposium on the "borders" of anti-Semitism -- where legitimate criticism of Jewish behavior ends and anti-Semitism begins -- that will be the context of the screening. Boxoffices have been deluged with requests for tickets.
"Interest in the film is unbelievable," says Garbuz, who has invited Gibson to attend.
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