Four years ago, I saw “The Thin Red Line” and something about watching Jim Caviezel touched my soul. I could see kindness in his eyes. Only after researching his history on the Internet was I able to confirm what I suspected: Jim Caviezel is a special human being, grounded in principles. How strange to find this apparent contradiction in the sham world of the cinema.
In September 2002, by chance, I read that Mel Gibson has decided to shoot a movie in Matera and at Cinecitta Studios about The Passion of Christ. It delighted me when I read that the main character, Jesus, was to be played by Jim Caviezel.
I work in an office and know nothing about the world of the cinema. Something, however, compeled me to pursue the opportunity to look the man in the eyes. I am not certain what it was that moved me forward, but whatever it was, it feels strong and right.
A kind young woman on the phone at Cinecitta Studios explains to me that Cinecitta is like a fortress: it is not possible at all to get near Jim Caviezel, even if he were passing by in a car!
This something, this searching in me will not retire, so I decide that I need to be part of this movie. I decide that I need a portfolio of photographs as an entry device. My photographer friend believes it strange that I, an office worker, desire a portfolio of photographs. In response to his question about why I need a portfolio, my answer to him is shy. “I want to participate in a religious movie”, I explain.
“Is it ‘The Passion’ movie, because I am working there”, he replies.
The photo shoot takes place in the Villa Borghese, and three days later, my photos are ready. I assemble my portfolio and after work, I run to Cinecitta, where I leave the portfolio so as to be considered as an extra in “The Passion”.
The Wait
One day in December, my mobile phone rings and a man tells me, “I am Mr _____ and I’m calling you to come for ‘The Passion’ movie. Please, will you remind me of the colour of your hair?”
I panic a little remembering that this movie takes place in Palestina where it would have been hard to find blonde hair and blue eyes (like mine) in the village population!
Given the luxury of hiding my looks in the telephone conversation, I reply to him “I am brunette, with a Mediterranean look”.
“OK”, he replies, “Please come to Cinecitta Saturday morning at 8AM”.
I have two days to completely change the way look—into a Mediterranean brunette.
Saturday morning at 6AM finds me dying my blonde hair and hoping for a miracle to hide my blue eyes. I dress in smart clothes, because my friend is getting married, and it’s only after that event that I can run to Cinecitta. The studio is very far away from where I live.
In front of the studio, I wait four hours in stiletto heels in a terrible Roman winter wind. Finally, when it is my turn, I tell the story that I am studying cinema at University and am preparing a discussion about historic movies. So being in this movie will help me by showing me a historic reconstruction. They make no promises except to give us news in a few days.
When I started to tell you this story I said that something about Jim Caviezel’s look touching my soul. The only reason this is true is because some time before seeing “The Thin Red Line”, I had a spiritual experience in the metro with a Monk.
The Monk was engaged with people sitting across the car from me, perhaps people with problems, it seemed to me. I looked up from my book and gazed exactly into his eyes. I felt shocked by his look, from his eyes, from his smile full of love and sweetness. I didn‘t resist his glance, I felt dirty and entrapped by superficial problems. When I left the car, I looked over my shoulder and saw him smiling at me, giving me perhaps the most beautiful smile I had ever received.
My encounter with the Monk made me cry. I cried for a long time, perhaps because of the sorrows of my life in those days, and perhaps for other unknown reasons. I knew from the look in the Monk’s eyes that only I could change my life. I searched every day for the Monk, to get the “Hope Feeling” from looking into his face. But I never found him again.
But I did find Jim Caviezel’s face in “The Thin Red Line” and I knew in those moments that this American actor—totally innocent of this knowledge—gave me that same Hope Feeling.
The Filming
Later in December, having given up all prospects that Cinecitta would ever call me in as an extra for “The Passion”, my mother called me to say that Cinecitta called and “...you have been chosen as an extra for the movie”.
I ran to Cinecitta and discovered that the scenes are scheduled for shooting from 3PM to 6AM. I am to work in a tailor’s workshop. I wear five tunics and leather shoes. I understand that 2,000 years ago, I would not have worn wollen socks. We are pretty cold in our costumes.
At last we are called onto the set. I am enchanted by the beauty of the scene. I see an ancient temple and square around me, authentic-looking Romans riding on horseback, and tears fill my eyes because of how humble I feel. We shoot all night long.
During the next day’s shooting, I make friends with two extraordinary boys, R and S, who in turn introduce me to a third, C.
We see Jim Caviezel wearing his ‘scene clothes’ and we all agree that he looks like Jesus in a striking way. His face is unrecognizable because of the make up and all his wounds. But I do see in his eyes the amazing power that I saw in the Monk’s eyes.
The Conclusion
The time between meeting the eyes of the Monk on the metro and meeting the eyes of Jim Caviezel lasted about four years. But in those four years I have discovered that God is my best friend. I study at the University, I work hard at my job and I know that my life is a good life.
I know that God works in particular ways to save people and show us the way. I also know that now that I am more whole, I can help someone else, maybe by just a kind look of the eyes, or a smile to enlighten the life of an unhappy person.
I am grateful to the Monk and to this American actor for giving me such a beautiful simple gift of humanity.
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