Movie
Review – 'For Greater Glory'
For Greater Glory opened in theaters last Friday,
June 1. It tells the story of the Cristiada, the armed resistance of Mexican
Catholics against government persecution in the 1920s.
The movie begins with Mexican President Plutarco Calles announcing
the “Calles Law,” a series of measures aimed at restricting the freedom of the
Church in Mexico and people's ability to practice their Faith. The Church
attempted to have the restrictions lifted through political means, and the
faithful launched boycotts and petitions. Public services ceased on August 1,
1926, and the Church's ministry in many ways went underground. As Catholics'
civil disobedience grew, the government responded with violent atrocities. Many
priests and lay people were brutally murdered.
By January, 1927, people began fighting back militarily. These
armed resistors were called Cristeros, for their cry, “Viva Cristo Rey!” For
Greater Glory follows the Cristeros throughout the war with the government,
focusing particularly on a few major historical players.
The
first is Enrique Gorostieta Velarde, played by Andy Garcia, who became the
leader of the Cristero army, and for whom the battle for religious freedom
became a quest for faith. Another is Father Jose Reyes Vega, one of the few
priests who took up arms in the Cristiada, and one of the military leaders.
Finally, Blessed Jose Sanchez del Rio, a 14 year-old Cristero flag bearer, was
eventually captured, tortured and executed. He was beatified in 2005 by Pope
Benedict XVI. Another character of note is Anacleto Gonzalez Flores, played by
Eduardo Verastegui, another Blessed, head of the civilian wing of the
resistance, who was also martyred.
Most Americans are unaware of the persecution that happened in
Mexico less than 100 years ago and the martyrs it produced, and For Greater
Glory aims to change that. Though the film rightly portrays the Cristeros
as the “good guys,” it gives a very fair historical treatment of the situation.
For example, although it is a ridiculous lie to claim simply, as I saw on one
Web site recently, that “atrocities occurred on both sides,” it is true that
there were instances in which these Christian soldiers did not fight with total
Christian virtue, and the film is not afraid to acknowledge that. And if
anything it leaves the viewer with a picture of the Mexican government's
brutality that is less graphic than history records.
As a historical film, For Greater Glory is very good, and
will successfully raise awareness of what really happened in the Cristiada. It
also raises difficult questions about war in general. The Church never
officially sanctioned the Cristiada, though the pope did condemn the actions of
President Calles. And though the cause was just, the film demonstrates how
difficult it is, spiritually, to maintain one's virtue, even when fighting a
just war. The image of Father Vega taking up arms is certainly difficult from a
Catholic point of view.
As a war movie, of course it is very violent, and there are
portrayals of the government's brutality. The martyrdom of Sanchez del Rio is
particularly difficult to watch, so sensitive movie-goers should be prepared.
The film, of course, is also very timely. Here in the United
States we are being urged to prepare for peaceful civil disobedience to fight
our own President's brazen attacks on our religious liberties and basic
freedoms. And in many places around the world it is far worse. One can't help
noticing the similarities between 1920s Mexico and modern China, where the
Church has had to go underground, and baseless arrests, torture, and murder of
innocent Catholics are commonplace at the hands of the government. We would all
do well to learn the lessons of the Cristiada, and perhaps find inspiration from
the suffering of those brave men and women as we fight our own battles today.
May God grant us the Grace
to attain freedom and justice peacefully, and the fortitude to continue the
fight. Viva Cristo Rey!
