The Tree of Life Screening & Panel Landmark Theater June 22, 2011

Corpus Christi email rumor is false – but a documentary about the play was released April 2012

Update May 2012

I have not seen this documentary that is “about” the play “Corpus Christi” – it is not a film version of the play though from the trailer it seems scenes from the play may be included. The film premiered in San Francisco in April, according to the website. I do not know if the film will have a theatrical release but I have a call in with the publicist.

Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption trailer

 According to the film’s website Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption is about 

In this feature documentary, anti-gay religious groups meet “the gay Jesus play.” The film follows the troupe, playwright, and audiences across the U.S. and around the world on a 5-year journey of Terrence McNally’s passion play, where voices of protest and support collide on one of the central issues facing the LGBT community – religion based bias.  Challenging issues of civil rights, marriage equality and separation of church and state, this production has become a remarkable vehicle of positive change for a community struggling to find its voice.  Meanwhile, the company of actors finds itself on a journey that would forever change their lives.

From About.com 2011 UPDATE: In mid-2011 a documentary film will be released chronicling a touring production of Terrence McNally’s stage play Corpus Christi. The play does, in fact, depict Jesus Christ as a gay man. However, the film is NOT the play, but a documentary about it. Important distinction.

The documentary film is entitled Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption.

You may want to check out this site that explains Urban Legends, Gay Jesus, Corpus Christi Play, why people react to rumors about subjects that touch their beliefs.

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I posted this on April 23, 2009:

For perhaps the 100th time this year a friend has forwarded to me an email that is completely false. “Corpus Christi”, the play by Terrence Mc Nally, is NOT being made into a movie.

I am posting this here because I don’t have time to respond to all the emails….

A media mindful response is to check the sources and the rumor itself (www.snopes.com) before you spread an email around.  Truth is not served by spreading rumors.

As St. Ignatius recommended: test the spirit. If he were here today, he might say: test the email. Reflect and research before you hit that send button; this is a service to the community; spreading false rumors helps no one.

Here is what I wrote in another posting Sr Rose Looks at Hollywood:

Urban Legends

I have some wonderful Catholic friends who get excited whenever anything worrisome appears in their email boxes. Before checking out the “rumors” or information, they forward emails to all their friends. In the last six months I have received several emails telling me to sign a petition because Terrence McNally’s play “Corpus Christi”, about a gay Jesus and gay apostles, is going to be released soon as a movie. According to www.snopes.com, this rumor has been going around at least since 2000 and it is false. Indeed, there is no mention of it at the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) and Google doesn’t turn up anything. I recommend checking out rumors that seek to incite moral panics before passing on misinformation. This is a thoughtful response.

The Tree of Life and Bridesmaids Reviews

When director/writer Terrence Malick’s new film opens we hear the quiet voice of 1950’s wife and mother Mrs. Obrien (Jessica Chastain): “The nuns always taught us that there is the way of nature and the way of grace; it is up to us to choose.”

Actually, it’s not that simple, as we discern during the roll out of Malick’s cinematic epic overflowing with color, sights, sounds, and realize we are witnessing the artist’s rendition of God’s creative act. We move through the ages and see aggression played out between dinosaurs. Then we are with the O’Brien’s in a small Texas town where their three sons are born, baptized and confirmed in their parish church.

Mr. O’Brien (Brad Pitt) is an inventor, disappointed that his creations do not succeed. He takes out his frustrations on his wife and children, especially Jack (Hunter McCracken as a child; Sean Penn later). Mrs. O’Brien is kind and protective of her children.

The threads the film weaves together often comes in pairs: nature and grace; nature and nurture; stern, intimidating father and sweet, strong mother; the astonishing beauty of God’s creation entwined with cement and steel, creations of humans.

Click here for more of my review of THE TREE OF LIFE

Click here for more on BRIDESMAIDS