Heiners Filmseiten – For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (en)

For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (Cristiada)

German title: Gottes General – Schlacht um die Freiheit
Francaise title: Cristeros
Greek title: Κατάσταση Πολιορκίας
Russian title: Битва за свободу
Original title: Cristiada

Alternative titles:
Cristeros | Cristiada | Outlaws | Кристиада

War drama – Mexico
Production year: 2010
Movie length: 145 minutes

Director: Dean Wright
Writer: Michael Love
Cinematograph: Eduardo Martínez Solares
Music: James Horner

For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada

Movie description:

A chronicle of the Cristeros War (1926-1929); a war by the people of Mexico against the atheistic Mexican government.

The film opens with screen titles describing the anti-Catholic provisions of the 1917 Constitution of Mexico. Civil war erupts when newly elected Mexican president, Plutarco Elías Calles, begins a violent and relentless crackdown against the country’s Catholic faithful. The film depicts the carnage by showing churches being set on fire, nuns subjected to extreme harassment, Catholic priests murdered with the chance to leave Mexico and countless faithful peasants killed and then publicly hanged on telegraph poles.
The story shifts to Father Christopher, a Catholic priest, who is ruthlessly murdered by the Federales (government forces). The killing is witnessed by a thirteen-year-old boy named José Luis Sánchez. Driven by anger and rage, José joins the rebels, or Cristeros (»soldiers for Christ«), fighting against Calles. Their battle cry is »Viva Cristo Rey!« (meaning »Long live Christ the King«). The rebel leader, retired general Enrique Gorostieta, an agnostic, takes an interest in young José and the boy soon becomes his protégé. Later while fighting against the Federales, José is captured in a firefight and is tortured to force him to renounce his belief in God. When José resolutely defends his faith, he is executed.

Boy Actors