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Holy Week is a time of deep spiritual reflection for many Filipinos. It’s an opportunity to pause and step back from the demands of our busy lives and contemplate the profound meaning of this sacred time. Beyond the traditions and rituals, Holy Week calls us to a personal introspection on the enduring themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the power of faith.
During this period, The Passion of the Christe merges as a compelling reminder of the immense suffering and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Directed by Mel Gibson and based on Anne Catherine Emmerich’s book, The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, this film is an intense portrayal of the final twelve hours of Jesus Christ’s life, from his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane to his crucifixion and resurrection. It’s a testament to the betrayal, pain, and ultimate offering Jesus bore for the very people he came to redeem.
Gibson recounted how his inspiration for creating the film arose from a period of intense personal struggle, a “spiritual bankruptcy” that prompted him to turn towards the Bible for guidance. Although already familiar with the foundations of Christian belief, meditating on the Gospel in his time of need renewed his faith.
Gibson’s experience might resonate deeply with the Filipino experience, as a society deeply rooted in religious belief and familiar with the story of Christ’s passion. We grew up surrounded by films, drawings, sculptures, and various art forms dedicated to narrating and understanding the man from Nazareth, but reading historical accounts is often not enough for us to understand the gravity of Christ’s sacrifice.
From Caleb Deschanel’s artistic cinematography and John Debney’s moving score to Jim Caviezel’s profoundly moving performance as Christ, The Passion of the Christ makes it difficult for viewers to take their eyes off the screen at any given moment. No matter what you’re looking for this Holy Week, Gibson’s film delivers a visceral, theological, and artistic experience that resonates even today, 21 years after it premiered.
Speaking to Sight Magazine, director Mel Gibson shared what impact he hoped the film would have on its viewers: “I hope it spurs them on to investigate the life of Christ for themselves. And I don’t think you can’t be impacted by it. Some of the images are really strong, and I’ve decided not to hold back. Jim Caviezel (the actor who plays Jesus) said it really well. He said there will be some people that it will freak out…(b)ut there will be other people who can’t stop watching it, and even though they are horrified and terrified by it they will sit through the whole thing…By speaking very loudly, image and sound wise, it’s going to make people think very deeply.”
Gibson is also planning to film a sequel entitled Resurrection, with the hope of releasing it in the near future. This follow-up aims to explore the events after Christ’s crucifixion, delving further into the heart of Christian belief.
The Passion of the Christ will stream on Lionsgate Play PH via PLDT Home and Smart starting Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2025.
About Lionsgate Play
Lionsgate Play, a premium streaming service from Lionsgate India and Starz, offers bespoke quality content to its users. It boasts premium and curated content including Premieres, billion-dollar Franchise Movies and binge-worthy Box Sets. Lionsgate Play is accessible to consumers in the Philippines via the app. For a monthly subscription cost of PHP 79, the titles can be streamed with a PLDT Home account. For more information about Lionsgate Play Philippines, visit lionsgateplay.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok.
About PLDT Home
PLDT Home is trusted by Filipinos to deliver the fastest internet connection and future-ready innovations to their homes. It is the only telco in the Philippines that has received the most prestigious “Fastest Fixed Internet, Five Years In a Row” award at the Ookla® Speedtest Awards™ 2022 – a first for PLDT and the Philippines. Enabling moments that bring the family closer together, PLDT Home offers unli-entertainment including Lionsgate Play and its library of award-winning titles.
About Smart
Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is a wholly owned wireless communications and digital services subsidiary of PLDT, Inc., the Philippines’ largest and only integrated telecommunications company. Smart serves approximately 97% of the country’s population with its combined 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G network, providing mobile communications services, high-speed internet connectivity, and access to digital services and content to Filipinos, supporting the country’s growing digital economy, and providing the best customer experience for an increasingly digital Filipino lifestyle.
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