The Passion of the Christ (2004)

The Passion of the Christ (2004) is a cinematic portrayal of the final twelve hours in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The narrative begins in the Garden of Olives (Gethsemane), where Jesus retreats to pray following the Last Supper. Throughout his ordeal, Jesus faces and overcomes Satan's temptations. Betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus is apprehended and brought within the city walls of Jerusalem. Here, the Pharisees accuse him of blasphemy, leading to his condemnation to death. Jesus is then presented to Pilate, the Roman Governor of Palestine, who grapples with the political intricacies of the situation. Pilate defers to King Herod, who ultimately returns Jesus to Pilate. The crowd is given a choice between Jesus and the criminal Barabbas, and they opt to free Barabbas and condemn Jesus. Jesus is then handed over to Roman soldiers for flagellation, leaving him barely recognizable. Pilate, in a final attempt to appease the crowd, presents Jesus to them, but it is not enough. Pilate washes his hands of the matter, ordering his men to carry out the crowd's wishes. Jesus is forced to carry his cross through the streets of Jerusalem to Golgotha. There, he is crucified and faces his final temptation—the fear of abandonment by his Father. Overcoming this fear, he looks at Mary, his Holy Mother, and declares, "it is accomplished." With his final breath, he says, "into Thy hands I commend my Spirit." At the moment of his death, the forces of nature are disrupted.