The 2004 movie Monica Bellucci was begged to avoid: “No, I prefer to do this”Taking creative risks can feel empowering. There’s something so exhilarating about throwing yourself into a piece of art that deeply challenges you, which is exactly why Monica Bellucci has taken on various roles over the years that have pushed her to her limits. When the movie was released, there was an immediate outcry from many who believed that the movie pushed an anti-Semitic narrative that placed the blame for Jesus’ crucifixion on Jewish people. “At the same time, I had a proposition for a big movie, very commercial, but I said, ‘No, I prefer to do this movie.’ It certainly was a risk for Bellucci to star in the movie, although not for reasons that her agent suggested.