By Delia Gallagher
Amid the talk over possible anti-Semitic sentiment in «The Passion of the Christ,» I had the opportunity to meet Shaila Rubin, the American Jewish casting director who worked with Mel Gibson on the film. I asked her if the accusations of anti-Semitism on the part of Gibson or his film rang true for her.
«I don't think Mel willing, wittingly set out to make a film that is anti-Semitic or anti-anything,» Rubin said. «I think I was only the second person to receive a copy of the script, which was top secret,» she said. «I had to keep it under lock and key and I read it, very thoroughly, and then I had a meeting with Mel Gibson and the production team at one of the hotels and the first question I was asked was: Did I have any problem with the script? I immediately said no, because I did not. I read it twice and had no doubts at all, I did not find it anti-Semitic.»
What were her impressions of Gibson?
«I found him a warm, intelligent, generous person and a very funny man,» Rubin said. «I am not defending him because I want to defend him. I want to defend him because he is a fantastic person. I don't see any reason why he would make a film that would cause a third world war.»
I asked if Gibson, in choosing and instructing the cast, had indicated that the Jews should look vengeful or bloodthirsty - as some have accused them of appearing in his movie.
«No,» Rubin said. «For the Judas role there were several candidates, and the one that I thought he might choose, an Italian actor, he did not choose because there was something in his eyes that Mel felt was too cruel. And that's not what he wanted from Judas. He wanted a Judas who was indecisive, not at all cruel.»
«I did hear him say to the Romans, 'I want to see more energy in the whipping.' The Romans are doing that, not the Jews,» she said. «I found that the Romans were far more cruel in the script than anything,» Rubin added, «and I think that comes out in the film.»
ZENIT Daily dispatch - The World Seen from Rome
4. mars 2004