Mel Gibson's passion and 'The Passion of the Christ'

For weeks there seemed to be scarcely a day when the papers weren't fuelling the publicity surrounding the film by drawing attention either to the inflammatory outbursts of various interest groups or to the secrecy relating to its pre-release screenings. We usually acquire some sort of baggage from the hype attached to major films: it is in the producers' interests to try to ensure this: but what went on before The Passion actually hit the screens was something else again.