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Academy Award winning director Mel Gibson's highly acclaimed must-see The Passion Of The Christ will be available on DVD from 31st August 2004 from MGM Home Entertainment Limited.

A triumphant and uncompromising movie making achievement filmed in Aramaic and Latin, the 18-certificate release has generated over £11 million at the UK and Irish box office. Its world wide gross figure currently stands at more than $600,000,000.

An emotional epic which deeply moved audiences worldwide regardless of their faith or beliefs, the most talked about film of the year The Passion Of The Christ is a dramatic epic which everyone should see and experience for themselves.

A profound story of courage and sacrifice depicting the final twelve hours in the life of Jesus Christ, The Passion Of The Christ was adapted by Mel Gibson in collaboration with Benedict Fitzgerald (Wise Blood, In Cold Blood, Heart of Darkness, Zelda) from a composite account of The Passion assembled from the four Biblical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Passion Of The Christ is a flawless piece of film-making with incredible production values, including stunning cinematography, musical score, costumes, sets, make-up and special effects. Cinematographer, the four time Oscar-nominee, Caleb Deschanel aimed to recreate the effects of a Caravaggio painting. This Italian Baroque artist infused his paintings with a lifelike glow despite the subject matter and colours being so dark and Deschanel worked to get the effect of light fighting its way out of the darkness. The powerful music works through the film giving the scenes and action an incredible amount of emotion - composer John Debney is one of the most sought-after in Hollywood with a unique ability to create hugely memorable work.

This beautiful film also features an inspired lead performance by Jim Caviezel (The Thin Red Line, The Count of Monte Christo) and an outstanding performance from Monica Bellucci (The Matrix Reloaded) who stars as Mary Magdelene.

Following the Last Supper, Jesus goes to the Garden of Olives to pray. He resists Satan's temptations and betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus is arrested and taken back to within the city walls of Jerusalem where the leaders of the Pharisees confront him with accusations of blasphemy and his trial results in a condemnation to death.

Brought before Pilate, the Roman Governor of Palestine, the accusations against him are read out. Realising he is confronting a political conflict, Pilate hands him over to the crowd to choose what to do. Roman soldiers severely whip him until he's unrecognisable and when the crowd want more, Pilate washes his hands of the entire dilemma, ordering his men to do as the they wish.

Presented with the cross, Jesus is ordered to carry it through the streets of Jerusalem all the way up to Golgotha where he's nailed to it and undergoes his last temptation - the fear that he's been abandoned by his Father. Overcoming his fears, he looks at Mary, his Holy Mother, and makes the pronouncement which only she can fully understand "it is accomplished". His death has the power to move the world as his Father commands nature to show the people what they have done and brings the film to it's stunning climax.

The Passion Of The Christ is a moving and ground-breaking film which has the power to change people's lives forever.