Article March 22, 2004 Issue

My moment of grace at The Passion

By Laura Matthews

APPARENTLY, I AM NOT ONE who's squeamish about movie violence or the graphic depiction of suffering. To me, it serves to make a statement about the heroism of the sufferer.

I felt that way at Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan—I had to experience the grinding first half-hour of the D-Day battle on Normandy Beach in order to fully appreciate the sacrifice of the men at the end of the film. I wouldn't have appreciated the one without the other.

So, I went to see The Passion of the Christ opening weekend and watched it, unblinking. I let myself experience what the movie was trying to do. And this brought me to one moment of grace I don't believe I'll forget any time soon, although I may have trouble living up to it.

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