The Catholic Church has refused to allow a major film to be shot in the former Grand Mosque of Cordoba, which is now a Christian cathedral, causing a row over Spain’s Islamic past.
Church authorities said the plans of Ridley Scott, the British director of Gladiator and Thelma and Louise, would “interfere with religious life”.
Scott wanted to use the cathedral, known as the Mezquita, in his �54 million adventure Kingdom of Heaven, which is based on the Crusades.
But a church spokesman said: “The 200 people and the false door and walls and all the props would interrupt the religious life of the Mezquita for roughly a month, which would be disorderly and excessive.”
The row has also assumed political overtones, with politicians of the traditionally communist-run city strongly criticising the Church and the Right wing for not seizing the opportunity to promote Cordoba.
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The IMDB database lists the plot outline of “Kingdom of Heaven” as:
During the Crusades of the 12th Century, a young blacksmith leads the people of Jerusalem in defense against the Crusaders.
I guess I will wait for the movie and hope that it isn’t another European Christian men behaving badly epic..
Crisis Magazine did a good short piece previously called The Real History of the Crusades
3 comments
A movie about the Crusades?
Can it be that mainstream Hollywood directors are already trying to jump on the Passion of Christ bandwagon?
It sounds like this movie isn’t glorifying the Crusaders, but the Muslims holding the holy land. My guess is that Catholics come out looking like greedy landgrabbers – I doubt Ridley Scott is looking out for God’s interests in this film . . .
Jay
Have you guys read Chesterton’s essay, “The Meaning of the Crusades”? I’d be interested to see a piece on it. It can be found here