FOR GREATER GLORY: THE TRUE STORY OF THE CRISTIADA

Mexico, 2013, 145 minutes, Colour.
Andy Garcia, Ruben Blades, Oscar Isaac, Santiago Cabrera, Mauricio Kuri, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eduardo Verastegui, Nestor Carbonell, Bruce Greenwood, Bruce Mc Gill, Peter O' Toole.
Directed by Dean Green.

Mexican story? Early 20th century? The emerging nation? Re Specifically Catholic, and explicitly so is For Greater Glory: the True Story of Cristiada (2013, director Dean Green). It is a recounting of the Mexican uprising, 1926-1929, when militant Catholics, the Cristeros, whose motto was May Christ Reign, rebelled against the anti-clerical laws of President Calles. Disparate groups all over the country were unified under the leadership of a retired general, Gorostieta, which led to a diplomatic solution with Vatican involvement and the mediation of an American ambassador, Dwight Morrow.

The major target of the laws was clergy, the ordinary parish priests and the bishops. Many were brutally killed, some after officiating at ceremonies, others simply because they were priests. Pope Pius XI was condemnatory of the laws and government action. Decades later, a number of those killed, martyred for their faith, priests as well as lay men and women and children were beatified and some canonised by John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

A range of priests are seen throughout the film, differing perspectives on the role of clergy. Peter O’ Toole appears as Fr Christopher, an elderly priest who can’t believe that these situations could arise, is seen at his Church, ornately Spanish tradition, especially with a boy, son of the mayor, Jose, who will follow the priest’s example and defy his father’s exhortation to give in and be cruelly tortured and hanged (and later beatified). Christopher is literally dragged from his Church, declares himself for peace when Fr Vega is championing a violent response to the government. He has not hidden, thought he would be safe in his Church. Wearing black vestments, he speaks words from which the title of the film is taken, ‘Who are you if you don’t stand up for what you believe. There is no greater glory than to die for Christ’. He urges Jose to run and escape. He is lined up against a wall and shot by firing squad.

Another priest, Fr Robles, administers the sacraments and is attacked and hanged in his Church which is smashed and looted, the large crucifix dragged out and burnt on a rubbish heap – but the peasants rise up, shoot at the Federales and hang one of them opposite Fr Robles.

By contrast, the main priest character is Fr Vega, still administering the sacraments, but dressed as a military commander. He and his men (and women who smuggle weapons and bullets by train) attack a train for its gold but set the train alight with many deaths, something which haunts Fr Vega, angers the president, and leads to attacks and reprisals. Fr Vega works with General Gorostieta in a number of assaults, finally outnumbered and both shot. The General has not been religious but at one stage wants to confess but Fr Vega doubts his spiritual change. Ultimately, it is the General to whom the dying Vega confesses.

The film is forcefully pro-Catholic (alienating quite a number of viewers), was partly financed by the Knights of Columbus who are seen supporting the uprising at the time.

1. A Mexican story? Early 20th century? The emerging nation, the history of revolutions? The Catholic tradition? The atheistic movement, the reaction of the Catholics, the persecution, the rebellion?

2. The settings, the 1920s, the church and priests and the ministry, the response of the faithful, the experience of persecution, executions, the role of the military, ordinary people’s reactions? Banding together, rebellion as a crusade, the freedom of religion? The priests, for military action, against it? Leadership? The battles, the massacres, the need for central authority, the approach to the general, his listening, agreeing, his leadership?

3. The locations, the feel of Mexico, authentic aspects of the period, costumes and decor, for civilians, the military, the clergy, the government? The musical score?

4. The action sequences, the reality of war? Editing and pace?

5. The President, his government, his attitude, legislation, talking with his advisers, the outbreak of persecution, the role of the government, the use of the military? Anti-religion motivations? The success of the persecution? The nature of the revolt? The response of the Vatican? Quoting Pope Pius XI? The role of US, the President, the ambassador, the negotiations? The President and his compromise?

6. Father Christopher, Peter O’ Toole, his attitude towards his ministry, standing firm, against violence, his being urged on by the revolutionary priest? The young boy, in trouble, his friends, stealing, his changing, work for the priest, his family background, his father as Mayor, his running away with his friend to join the rebels, the ordinary menial tasks? The arrest, the torture, the appeal of his father, his death? The later information about his beatification?

7. Father Christopher, his standing fast, been removed from his presbytery, the firing squad?

8. The parish priest, defying authorities, being hanged, the revolution is getting revenge on only in the military?

9. The revolutionary priest, the discussions about war, his gathering the men, his stances, becoming military?

10. The people involved, the men and women, the women smuggling the arms, their characters, families, the dangers, the deaths?

11. The General, in himself, his past history, the approach to him, the response of his wife, the discussions, his agreement? Seeing him in the field? The unifying the rebellion? His later meeting with the President and their discussions? His reactions to the military priest, the discussions about faith, and issues of confession, the priest refusing the General confession, urging him to repentance? The priest being wounded, his confession to the General? The General being killed?

12. The years of the campaign, blood, massacres, executions, the bloodthirstiness and viciousness of the persecution?

13. The need for intervention, Vatican, the United States, the role of the President, his adviser, the new ambassador, the discussions and his diplomacy, success?

14. A film of a heroics\, crusade? The role of the Catholic Church?

15. The information about the canonisations and the beatifications?