The Passion of the Movies

Upon its release this Ash Wednesday, Mel Gibson's new film The Passion of Christ is sure to add to the passionate debate already surrounding the film. In the process, the film is poised to join a select list of films that highlight the unique ability of movies to sometimes go beyond mere entertainment to something more universal ... call it movie magic?

For a start, The Passion of the Christ is one of the first R-rated movies in a while that has moviemakers and marketers encouraging young and old alike to see the film.

The Passion of Movies

But what is it about movies, in particular, that can affect us with emotions, insights and inspiration ?

The Passion of the Christ has a lot of impact because there is a lot of charge surrounding it, says Oakland, Calif.-based cinema therapist Birgit Wolz, PhD.

However, Wolz tells WebMD, "an article or book would not have this much impact because all of our senses are affected through movies," Wolz says. "Our psyche is much more directly impacted by movies, especially when we hear music that arouses emotions as we watch."

Movies affect us through more than the story they are telling, she says. "They also elicit emotions by stimulating our senses: sight through visual images and hearing through music and other sounds. Directors use visual effects, spatial relations, timing, sound effects, and music to prompt the emotions of the audience in a particular direction, thus widening the range of their perception."

For Better or for Worse ...

"Movies are like a proverbial hammer, you can use them for good or for bad," she says. "They can re-traumatize people if they are so powerful and violent, and if people are not treated, they can worsen anxiety and depression."

For example, families may be re-traumatized when they see Holocaust movies such as Schindler's List and The Pianist. Other movies, too, can remind viewers of a traumatic event or loss.

Vietnam-era movies like Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July help raise consciousness about what happened in Vietnam. The effect "really depends who is seeing it, but I believe that these movies can make us more aware of what's happening in a war and learn compassion and empathy," she says.