Sobbing could be heard in the audience throughout most of "The Passion of the Christ" when the controversial Mel Gibson movie premiered Wednesday in Carson City at Wallace Theaters.
The film covers the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life - betrayal by Judas, denial by Peter and the painful torture and crucifixion of Jesus himself.
"This is historic reality, not religious reality," said Rev. Pat Propster of Calvary Chapel-Carson City Christian Fellowship, which sponsored a group visit to the theater.
Propster purchased all the tickets for the 7 and 9:30 p.m. viewings of the film. He told his congregation to bring friends or family, anyone who may want to know more about the life and death of Jesus or who may have questions. Both viewings - 190 seats each - were sold out, as are shows through Sunday, with the exception of Sunday's 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. shows.
Raised in a Christian family, Paulette Patay of Carson City said she found the movie very intense. She attended the film after receiving a ticket from a co-worker.
"It was said, or filmed, the way it happened," she said. "I wouldn't say it was gory at all. That's how people were back then; they were very barbaric. But I don't think kids should go."
The movie is rated R, meaning children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Twelve-year-old Casaundra Propster, the minister's daughter, thought it was a worthwhile movie for people to see.
"I thought it was good to see how people treated Jesus and how they were so cruel to Him," she said. "No one really knew how He was treated.
"I don't think it was that gory. People need to see that's how it happened."
The movie shows archaic weapons of torture. Guards whip Jesus' body, welts rising with each blow. Then, with a different weapon, Jesus' skin is torn and his chest, back and legs bloodied.
Asked about one controversy that has followed the film, Rabbi Jonathan Freirich of Temple Bat Yam in South Lake Tahoe said Jews should not be threatened about anti-Semitism in response to the movie.
"Jews would be wrong to react to this in a way that's overly defensive," Freirich said. "I think the original text is not kind, to say the least, to the high priest or crowds who were there."
Freirich said the movie was not a complete historical representation of the four gospels.
"It was not exactly loyal to the books of the Gospel," he said. "There are two important concepts here for Jews and Christians, a central text to their religion and faith. Not the history, but the text. Not that which we could prove or disprove, most Jews don't get that.
"Second, for Jews, the presentation of the Passion narrative - historically it's a tip-off point for virulent anti-Semitism. We now have an opportunity to share our central stories. We need to let people know what our sensitivities are without feeling threatened."
Propster said in his 12 years of being a pastor, he's done a lot of research on Christ's crucifixion.
"This is a movie for humanity, not religions," Propster said. "This to me was not an anti-Semitic film. To be anti-Semitic is to be anti-God.
"The only way this will spark anti-Semitism is out of people's ignorance. No one took His life; He laid down His life and took it up again. If they're going to blame anyone, blame us (Christians), not the Jews."
Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.
