LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Mel Gibson said in Los Angeles he hopes his controversial new film, "The Passion of the Christ," inspires tolerance, love and forgiveness.
"My intention for this film was to create a lasting work of art and to stimulate serious thought and reflection among diverse audiences of all backgrounds," the actor/filmmaker explained in production notes for "The Passion."
"My ultimate hope is that this story's message of tremendous courage and sacrifice might inspire tolerance, love and forgiveness. We're definitely in need of those things today."
Filmed in Italy and set to open Wednesday, "The Passion of the Christ" focuses on the last 12 hours of Jesus of Nazareth's life.
All the characters in the film speak the languages they would actually have spoken at the time; this means Aramaic for the Jewish characters, including Christ and his disciples, and street Latin for the Romans.
The film is adapted from a composite account of Christ's death from the four biblical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
