by Father Robert Lauder

Andy Garcia stars in a scene from the movie “For Greater Glory.” Garcia, a Catholic, plays a Mexican Revolution-era general lured out of retirement a decade later to fight his own government's severe curbing of religious freedoms.

I ATTENDED a special premiere screening of the new film “For Grater Glory.” As my guests, I brought my friends Mary and Andres Beyra.

The film is about the persecution of the Church in Mexico from 1926 to 1929. Mary and Andres are from Cuba, so they have the firsthand experience of living in a country where the Church is persecuted.  Mary is very involved in the new evangelization, and Andres is studying at St. John’s University, Jamaica, for a doctorate in history.  He knows the history of the persecution of the Church in Mexico, and he assured me that the film is quite historically accurate.

Because I had heard the film praised by several people, I was looking forward to seeing it. Though I did not dislike the film, I could not give it a completely enthusiastic critique. I am not certain why. Since that special screening I have read at least one review of “For Greater Glory” and also watched the two young critics on the NET TV show “Reel Faith,” David Dicerto and Stephen Greydanus, discuss the film and interview the star, Andy Garcia.

In his comments, David mentioned that it is important that people, who are dissatisfied with most films that are being produced today, do something positive by viewing and supporting “For Greater Glory.”  I think of the St. Christopher motto: “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

I agree completely with David and decided to give the film another viewing on the chance that my initial disappointment was due more to me than to “For Greater Glory.” For some reason, I had a hunch that the film was considerably better than I initially thought. I played my hunch, and I am glad I did.

Recently, I saw the film again, this time with my two nieces, who are 21 and 18, and their father.  Their reaction was unanimous.  They loved the film, and I appreciated “For Greater Glory” much more than I did previously. At one point, I thought I would have to swim out of the theater because of the copious tears that my nieces were shedding!  It fascinates me that in seeing the film a second time, I saw so much more than I did the first time.

Since 1992, I have viewed almost 250 films that are either classics or near classics. This has happened because of the Friday film festivals that I conduct at Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, six films in the fall, six films in the spring.  I firmly believe that movies should be taken seriously, that they are much more than a pleasant way to waste time. Just as there are great paintings, symphonies, statues, novels, poems and plays, there are great films. A steady diet of very poor films has to influence a viewer negatively; a steady diet of masterpieces, or films that are nearly masterpieces, has to influence a viewer positively.

When I started the film festival program, I wanted seminarians and others to be exposed to great movies.  I had seen all the films that I chose to screen during the festivals, but I wanted others to benefit from viewing them. As soon as I can, I intend to show “For Greater Glory.”

A film is a work of art created by human beings and there is no perfect work of art, though films like “A Man for All Seasons,” “Breaker Morant” and “On the Waterfront,” my favorite film, come close.

“For Greater Glory” is a very good film. Technically, it is first rate. Someone has spent a great deal of money producing it. I was especially impressed by the music, camera work and acting. All the performers are good, and Andy Garcia is excellent.

Thematically, the film is magnificent. One of the themes in the film is the price that some people have to pay for their faith.  This is handled very well. Another is centered on what a person can do in order to be receptive and open for God’s gift of faith. I think a third theme is that love between human persons can open someone to love of God.

At this moment in this country, the Church is the object of strong criticism in the media. When a favorable, balanced view of the Church is presented in the media, I believe that we should support and encourage those responsible for that presentation.

“For Greater Glory,” the current film about the persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico in the 1920s, earned more than $1.8 million on only 757 screens over its opening weekend – good enough for the No. 10 spot in overall box office for all films in release.  And it finished at No. 5 in per-screen average among the top 10!
Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, hosted the red-carpet premiere of the film last week, and the event drew significant media attention.

By Ed Wilkinson

“For Greater Glory,” the new film about Mexico’s repression of the Catholic Church in the 1920s, couldn’t have come at a better time.

The film, which is in limited engagement at three theaters in Manhattan, tells the story of the little-known or easily forgotten tyrannical moves against religious liberty by President Plutoarco Calles, Reuben Blades.

When the government outlaws religious orders, deprives the church of property rights and strips the clergy of civil liberties, including their right of trial by jury and the right to vote, a group of fervent Catholics, that became known as the Cristeros, unleash a violent response.  The movie is packed with action scenes and can be quite violent at times, but the depiction recalls a reality that should not be dismissed.

The central figure of the film is Gen. Enrique Gorostieta, played by Andy Garcia, a former military general and religious skeptic, who is hired to unite the religious forces as they wage war against the Federales.

The movie is stolen by young actor Mauricio Kuri, who portrays Joe Luis Sanchez, the saintly teen who refuses to renege on his faith and suffers a vicious martyrdom as a consequence.  Sanchez, along with several other Mexican martyrs of the time, was later beatified for his heroism.

Cameo appearances by Eva Longoria and Peter O’Toole lend additional star power to the project, which is beautifully photographed with sweeping vistas and special effects which magnify the power of the battle scenes.

“I may have an issue with the Church, but I support religious liberty,” says Gen. Gorostieta when questioned why he got involved with a religious cause despite his own lack of faith.  And therein lies the timeliness and pointedness of the movie.

At a time when religious liberty is under attack in the United States, it is not far-fetched to see a similar style persecution as a real possibility in America.

Catholic News Service reviewer John Mulderig made just that point in his critique: “The Mexican government’s tyrannical interference with religious liberty, while obviously far more extreme than anything taking place north of the border today, nonetheless carries a sobering resonance with current events. If the film can be taken as a cautionary tale about where excessively zealous, overweening secularism can lead a nation, the warning is a stark one.”

“For Greater Glory” is a film for our times.  It should be seen by all Catholics, indeed all people of faith.  It’s uplifting to view a movie that centers around the rallying cry of “Viva Cristo Rey!”  “Long Live Christ the King!”

So often we Catholics complain that there is nothing on the big screen that speaks to our values.  “For Greater Glory” is proof that filmmakers can treat serious topics such as faith and institutional religion in a serious way while still teaching valuable lessons.

This is a first-rate movie that demands Catholics’ support at the box office.  We’ve asked for something worthwhile and it has been delivered to us.  If we don’t support faith-based films such as “For Greater Glory,” we’ll deserve what we get in the future.  The same can be said if we fail to understand its message.

At the Manhattan preview of the film “For Greater Glory,” were, from left, Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros; Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM, of Boston; Pablo Jose Barroso, the film’s producer; and Very Rev. Kevin J. O.Leary.