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Ben Ammer co-produced a number of blockbuster movies |
Mel Gibson's explosive movie “The Passion of the Christ” will make its debut in France in April 2004 as a Tunisian businessman said he would distribute it. Tarek Ben Ammar, who lives in Paris and manages Carthago Films, told French daily Le Figaro on Tuesday, March 2, he took the decision out of confidence that the move was neither anti-Semitic nor racist.
He said Gibson, who co-wrote, directed and financed the epic which vividly depicts the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life, is his friend and told him about the movie whet it was on paper.
Ben Ammar, who is major film broker with close ties to media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Bersluconi, said it was his duty as a Muslim believing in Christianity and monotheist religions to make the movie available for the French, who can then judge for themselves.
Ben Ammar had taken part in producing popular films like “Jesus of Nazareth”, the “Star Wars” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” series.
Marin Karmitz, president of the French National Federation of Film Distributors, angrily rejected reports that the film might be boycotted because of fears it could stoke anti-Semitism -- saying the row was manufactured as a marketing device.
The Jewish lobby in France, which has a Jewish population of 500,000, are expected to launch a counter offensive in the days to come to stop the movie.
Yona Metzger, one of Israel's two leading rabbis called for a boycott of the film, which he claimed was “untrue, deliberately violent and encouraged anti-Semitism”.
Gibson, the star of the “Lethal Weapon” series and “Brave heart”, has staunchly defendedhimself and his movie against the charge of anti-Semitism.
The controversial movie was shot to number one in North America last weekend, earning more cash than all the other top films combined.
Since its February 25 debut, the movie, which was financed with some $25 million, has earned about $125.1 million in ticket receipts in the United States and Canada.
It received positive feedback from audience with some of them saying that there was nothing anti-Semitic in this movie. (Click here to see viewers’ reactions).
Muslims believe that Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) was not crucified and that God saved and raised him as someone else was crucified in his place.
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