The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 film co-written, co-produced and directed by Mel Gibson. It is based primarily on biblical accounts of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, events commonly known as "The Passion". The film’s dialogue is in Aramaic, Latin, and Hebrew, with subtitles. It was filmed in Matera, Italy and Cinecittà Studios, Rome.
It was Gibson's intention to be faithful to the spirit of the biblical account. With some embellishments from modern sources (see Source material), the plot adheres largely to the accounts found in the Canonical gospels of the New Testament, primarily John, and covers the period from Jesus' vigil in the Garden of Gethsemane up to his resurrection.
There are some changes that will be evident to most viewers. A few examples here will be enough to give an impression of the kind of change made by Gibson. For more detail on changes discussed by scholars see Differences from the New Testament.
Jesus is tempted in the garden by a personified Satan, who appears as an androgynous albino. Mary, mother of Jesus, awakes from a dream with feelings of foreboding and quotes from the Passover Seder, Why is this night different than other nights, and Mary Magdalene replies with a traditional response: Because once we were slaves and we are slaves no longer. When questioned by Caiaphas, Jesus pronounces the ineffable Name of God in his response, which justifies Caiaphas' subsequent charge of blasphemy before witnesses. Herod Antipas is depicted as an effeminate pederast. The people in the crowd that demands the freedom of Barabbas rather than Jesus have been paid to do so by Caiaphas.
An event similar to the story of Saint Veronica is in this account, but the woman is named "Seraphia" in the cast list. Although it is one of the Stations of the Cross, the story of Veronica wiping Jesus' brow with her veil on the Via Dolorosa is not present in the canonical gospels.