For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada

This is a one sided docudrama about the Cristeros War in Mexico (1926-1929), a war between Catholics against the atheist Government of Mexico.Andy Garcia stars as the leader of the revolt Enrique Gorostieta.

Gawd, what splendid photography. Spacious, craggy.

The film hijacks a complex social conflict and turns it into a David and Goliath story of good guys versus bad. In so doing, it whitewashes the historically reactionary role of the Catholic Church in Mexico.

Revolutions are never easy. And sometimes they demand sacrifice.

A compelling movie. Tough to watch toward the end but my kids and I really loved it.

Beautiful, informative reviews have already been written but as a Catholic, I am so very grateful that the character/priest represented by Peter O'Toole (Father Christobal Jara in real life - I apologize that I cannot remember his full name) - has been declared a martyr for his faith and has been canonized as a Saint. What a blessed man.

Good actors but not true. The cristeros were manipulated by the Catholic church to help them keep the power in political decisions and the Government was tired of the religion being involved in many important political and economical decisions, so The Catholic Church and the Government are very equal in how detrimental have been in the life of that great country, they both used the population of Mexico to solve their differences.

The Mexican government, inspired by a successful Russian Revolution has designs to install a secular government with the separation of church and state. As the Catholic Church is pushed out of power, the people take actions against the government.

What strikes me most about Dean Wright's directorial debut are the ever present contradictions. 'For greater glory' naturally brings to mind brave warriors, glorified figures of history and that certain aura achieved through cinematic means.