Approved for 12+

The Tribunal

Limited Theatrical Release - The stakes are high -- their Souls are at risk. Set against a backdrop of a Catholic marriage tribunal, two best friends fight for the woman they both love. Yet as all three wrestle with their desires, the ultimate question looms, “What does God want?” Will they find their way into the arms of the Lord? A captivating movie about love, faith and redemption, it speaks to the hearts of Christians everywhere.
9
Negative Rating
12345
SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
0
Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

“The Tribunal” features a unique story line. A man named Tony Mirakul (Ryan Wesley Gilreath) falls for a Catholic girl named Emily Vanderslice (Laura Mock). However, his pressure for her to have sex with him eventually leads to her giving in and then regretting it, due to her religious beliefs. They break up, and soon she winds up with Tony’s best friend, Joseph Seacker (Chris Petty). He is gentle, and she falls in love with Joseph. This drives a wedge between Tony and Joseph, who had a rock band together. Joseph wants to marry Emily, but one thing stands in the way: He was divorced from a woman named Jessie (Victoria McDevitt), who never truly believed in marriage. The only way the Catholic Tribunal, led by three priests, will permit them to marry is if Joseph can prove he deserves an annulment of the marriage and that the “divorce” stigma will be wiped clean. Also, an interesting twist to this story is that Tony can be the witness to secure the annulment, allowing his ex-girlfriend, whom he still loves, to marry his former best friend.

This movie has a few scenes of “making out,” and a couple has sex before marriage (which is implied with the couple in bed and talking about it, but not shown on the screen). Yet the girl repents for it and wants to be married to her next boyfriend. We are awarding this innovative story our “Faith-Friendly” Seal for ages 12-plus. Its themes incorporate forgiveness, purity, and the seriousness of marriage.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

A few images of Christ on the cross; a man punches a woman's photo.

2
Sex

Couples are "making out" in a few scenes, kissing passionately and lying in bed together; a couple talks about having sex, and the act is not shown, but the couple is shown in bed together; a man tells a woman he expects her to sleep with him, but this same woman repents for her deed and wants to get married; a comment that Jesus never had a girlfriend, and a priest says Jesus was tempted; the mention of a woman having cheated on her husband.

2
Language

G/OMG-5; A-1; H (as a Biblical place)-2; "Dam*ed" (as in soul lost)-1; Crap-1; Geez-1; "Sc*ew them"-1

1
Violence

A few images of Christ on the cross; a man punches a woman's photo.

1
Drugs

Drinking in a few scenes; the mention of someone who got drunk.

1
Nudity

Cleavage; shirtless man; image of Christ in a loin cloth and bare chest.

2
Other

Themes of sex before marriage, repentance and the seriousness of marriage; tension between couples; the Catholic Tribunal probes into the lives of the parties involved in their relationships with a character named Emily; a song in the beginning features a few characters dressed as Catholic priests; discussion about "permanent adultery" and issues regarding divorce and remarriage; a woman got an abortion, and a man cries over it; tattoos on man; a woman with MS doubts that prayer will help.

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