Mel Gibson's vilification may be a true imitation of Christ

THE Passion of Mel Gibson is almost over. Today is Ash Wednesday and his controversial film, The Passion of the Christ opens in cinemas across America. Irish cinemas will show it in early March.

Few films have had so much advance publicity, which is surprising for a foreign-language film portraying what many have done before: the passion and death of Jesus Christ. And rarely has the director of a film been so vilified before opening night.

Gibson has been accused of everything in recent months, from an obsession with violence to denying the Holocaust. But he will have the last laugh if the controversy puts bums on seats particularly the type of bums he wants, of which more anon.