This exclusive and official companion volume to Mel Gibson's film The Passion of Christ
invites readers to ponder some of the most powerful still photographs from the movie. Gibson provides a foreword in which he briefly describes the inspiration for making the film and explains his decision to draw on Scripture and "accepted visions" of the Passion as the sole texts for the screenplay. In the book, relevant Scripture passages (from the New Living Translation, alongside Latin and Aramaic) are juxtaposed against stunning full-color photographs of the film's depiction of Jesus' final 12 hours. We see Jesus kneeling in Gethsemane, bloodied by soldiers, brought before Pontius Pilate, mocked by Herod and nailed to the cross. Some images are simply unforgettable—Judas hanging himself from a tree; Mary recalling a poignant moment from Jesus' childhood; a spike being driven through Jesus' palm. Several pages of photos at the end of the book chronicle some behind-the-scenes moments in the making of the film. (Mar.)
