Dove Review

“For Greater Glory” is a story of great violence—and great faith. The movie opens in Mexico in 1926, a few years after a revolution. A precarious relationship between the Mexican government and the Catholic Church deteriorates as President Plutarco Elias Calles (Ruben Blades) strictly enforces the anti-clerical laws written into the Mexican Constitution in 1917.

Civil organizations, preeminently the League for Religious Liberty, respond peacefully, but the Cristeros take up arms to fight back against the violent atrocities of the government. This is their story. They must confront soldiers riding horses into Catholic churches and shooting members, in addition to killing priests.

There are several stories rolled into one that will touch viewers’ hearts, including that of Jose Sanchez del Rio (Mauricio Kuri) and that of General Enrique Gorostieta Flores (Andy Garcia). Young Jose is a mischievous boy befriended by a warm and kind padre. Jose witnesses him stand up for his faith, and sees the priest shot and killed right in front of him. Jose’s faith grows stronger as he makes a stand for Christ and faces paying the ultimate price with his own life. Mauricio Kuri is outstanding as Jose, and the General is superbly played by Andy Garcia. The General is not sure he believes in God, but he believes in the right of people to worship God as they choose. He sees the faith of young Jose and his own faith begins to grow.

There are powerful themes featured in this film. Fourteen-year old Jose would often cry out “Viva Cristo Rey!” (Long live Christ the King). He sacrifices his horse to a general in battle, risking his own life. Sure enough, he is captured and refuses to denounce his faith. He is told by the government soldiers to yell “Death to Christ the King!” but he refuses and is beaten, has the soles of his feet cut, is forced to walk on ground littered with salt, and taken to a grave where he is given one last chance to deny Christ. The movie powerfully shows the stand he made.

Make no mistake about it: the film accurately portrays the violence of that time period. There are many people shot and killed, stabbed, bloody wounds, hangings, and explosions. That is why we are awarding this film our “Faith-Based” Seal with a Caution for Violence. Adults should consult our content listing to decide if their family should watch the movie. The movie’s messages of faith and martyrdom are powerful. Those messages poke one in the conscience to decide: what do I believe and would I be willing to die for my faith?

Dove Rating Details

0

Faith

None

0

Integrity

Lots of realistic violence including hangings with corpses seen; many people are shot and killed including priests, and bloody wounds seen on several of them; man's very bloody mouth is seen; bloody noses and hands; stabbings; horses shot; boy's feet cut with bloody feet shown and he screams in pain; people are struck by soldiers' hands; statue image of Christ is burned; places of worship and homes are burned; train is set on fire and screams of dying people heard.

1

Sex

Husband kisses wife a few times.

2

Language

H-2; H (as a biblical place)-1

4

Violence

Lots of realistic violence including hangings with corpses seen; many people are shot and killed including priests, and bloody wounds seen on several of them; man's very bloody mouth is seen; bloody noses and hands; stabbings; horses shot; boy's feet cut with bloody feet shown and he screams in pain; people are struck by soldiers' hands; statue image of Christ is burned; places of worship and homes are burned; train is set on fire and screams of dying people heard.

2

Drugs

Many scenes of smoking including cigarettes, cigars and pipes; drinking in a few scenes including wine and a toast with wine.

0

Nudity

None

2

Other

A few men spit in disrespect; the Mexican government battles against religious freedom; a character wonders why God allows what He allows, but he fights for religious liberty.