Ben
Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì
For
Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada—based on
true events—recounts the Mexican government’s atrocities against Catholics in
its violent 1920s persecution. Mexican President Calles’ (Ruben Blades) historical
attempt to eliminate all Catholic religion, deport all foreign-born priests,
burn Catholic churches, and kill Catholic parishioners brutally comes to life
in this reality-based Mexican civil war film. Good historical rendering of what
came to be known as the Cristero War. The only fault in this movie is that it
does not properly show the magnitude or the impact of this war. The viewer sees
this event through a small group of impacted people and does not really
understand that this was a war that reduced Catholic priests from 4,500 strong
to about 334 individuals, now licensed by the government, to ‘practice’ in a
civil population of more than 15 million persons. The viewer does not
understand that over five percent of Mexico’s population fled to the areas
around Los Angeles (United States) to escape murder nor does the viewer
comprehend how well the United States has functioned as a bastion against
religious intolerance as it maintains quite necessary refugee cities for such persons
fleeing their own governments. The viewer is not given any appreciation for the
fact that the Los Angeles Mexican population is greatly founded from a
population with a need to practice their faith in freedom and security without
persecution from any political authority. This film is excellent, except for
its reduction of a horrific, widespread political persecution to what seems a
small scale challenge.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
The
Mexican government ruthlessly attempts to eliminate the dominant religious
class into subservience to the political authority.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to
Director Dean Wright for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Pablo Jose
Barroso for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Tulita
Gorostieta (Eva Longoria), Father Vega (Santiago Cabrera), José (Mauricio Kuri),
Father Christopher (Peter O’Toole), and Ambassador Dwight Morrow (Bruce
Greenwood).
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
This is a terrific film that tells its story well.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
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