For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada

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[ wind blowing ]

[ bell tolling ]

Entre el cielo y la tierra

Entre la luz y la oscuridad

Entre la fe y el pecado

Slo se encuentra mi corazn

Est Dios y slo mi corazn

[ overlapping conversations in Spanish ]

BOY:
Corre! Corre! Corre!

Compatriotas,

Mxico is under siege.

A plot as insidious

as it is dangerous

threatens our nation.

Outcasts from Rome

and from all over Europe

are coming into our country

to destabilize the government,

to poison the minds and hearts

of our people,

to turn them into fanatics

at the service of foreign interests.

This situation, this evil,

this threat

cannot be ignored,

and it will not be tolerated.

Therefore

I have instructed our Congress

to create a set of laws

designed to deal with

this national emergency.

Camine.

PRESIDENTE CALLES: Firstly,

every foreign-born bishop,

priest or minister

will be deported immediately.

Second, there will be

a five-year jail sentence

for any priest who criticizes

the government.

The wearing of religious vestments

in public is strictly forbidden.

Make no mistake.

This government is going to do

whatever is necessary

to preserve the dignity of Mxico,

the freedom of its people

and the immortal ideals

of La Revolucin Mexicana.

[ music playing ]

[ giggles ]

[ laughter ]

Muchachos!

Don't waste God's good food

making fun of me.

[ growls ]

[ growls ]

[ music stops ]

I-I'm ashamed of you.

He's a man of God.

Padre. Padre.

Jose will work for you

for the next two weeks, Padre.

Anything you need him

to do for the church.

That won't be necessary.

It was a harmless prank.

And I hear fruit is good for the hair.

I-I know that the priests

consider prayer a penitence,

but for a boy like my godson,

hard work is better.

Uh, you've no doubt,

uh, heard about the Calles Law.

Yes.

Just be careful about

wearing your cassock in public.

God save us from these heathens.

Have you had breakfast, Joselito?

Elodia makes wonderful chilaquiles,

and my friend Father Vega

will be here any minute.

Don't call me Joselito.

Oh, that's right.

You're tough.

I forgot.

The soldiers are coming into towns,

making sure the laws are being enforced.

I came from Europe over 70 years ago,

when I was just 7 years old.

Would they really kick out

an old man like me?

From what I hear,

they probably will.

There have been spontaneous

protests all over Mxico.

A resistance is forming,

and Rome, uh--Rome is taking

too long to respond.

An armed resistance?

Let's pray it doesn't come to that.

But...

[ sighs ]

It may become inevitable.

That's a mistake.

Our Savior is the Prince of Peace.

But the Bible also says

there is a time for peace,

a time for war.

We cannot allow the godless

to take away our freedom.

If need be,

we must stand up and resist.

Even if I were younger,

I would not fight.

You won't need to fight to help.

You can feed and shelter

the ones who come through.

Now, that I would do.

[ chuckles ]

Listo?

MAN:
Listo, Su Excelencia.

His Holiness Pope Pius XI

condemns the Calles Law.

Beginning midnight on August 1 st,

all holy services in Mxico

will be suspended.

[ crowd gasps ]

MAN:
No puede ser.

[ music playing ]

[ chanting ]

Respeto derecho de fe!

Respeto derecho de fe!

What beautiful little girl is gonna

beat me in chess today?

Me.

- You?

- Yes.

Okay, we'll see.

Peridico! Peridico!

The cathedral is being closed

at the orders of President Calles

so the government

can make an inventory

and safeguard its contents.

[ crowd murmuring ]

Let's go.

The girls will not be able to get

their confirmation, Enrique.

It's only temporary, Tulita.

Calles won't be able to sustain this.

Besides, I was sure

our daughters will survive

without the, uh, nuns

slapping their palms,

all that holy nonsense.

It is not a joke.

It may mean nothing to you,

but it means everything to me.

Daddy, does that mean

no more catechism?

So we can play now?

You can study science for now.

You know how important this is to me.

It's only temporary.

Besides, I'm sure there'll be

plenty of clandestine services.

Oh, so the girls can feel like

they are doing something shameful

when they go to Mass?

[ sighs ]

What do you want me to do?

Come.

Tula.

Tula.

Go look at the hats.

Tulita...

as a military man, I can tell you

that it's only a matter of time

before Calles is overthrown.

In the meantime,

you can teach the girls at home.

Unless, of course, you want me to.

Excuse me.

Hi.

For the repeal of the Calles Law.

Oh, excellent.

Thank you.

Good luck.

Excuse me, sir.

Please, for the repeal

of the Calles Law.

[ sighs ]

Please don't misunderstand me.

I'm a good Catholic.

But you're wasting your time.

Excuse me?

What good do you think this will do?

Calles can't ignore a million signatures.

I'm sorry to say he can and he will.

But on the other hand,

an economic boycott,

that would be quite

a different matter.

ANACLETO:
Brilliant, Adriana.

This is a brilliant idea.

[ chuckles ] Thank you,

but it wasn't mine.

It is very, very ambitious.

But why not?

A big sacrifice.

Only buy what we

absolutely need.

A type of Lent,

but this will attest to our faith.

And it will humble Calles.

[ door opens ]

Hello, Jose.

It seems Dr. Limn

has lost his watch.

Have you found anything

while you've been sweeping?

No, Padre.

Oh.

He must have lost it

somewhere else.

You're a good sweeper, Jose,

but I think you'd be a better altar boy.

Well done.

I'm proud of you.

[ kiss ]

[ chanting in Spanish ]

What did I tell you?

[ chanting outside ]

You cannot be soft with these people.

They confuse reason with weakness.

I showed restraint.

What did they do?

Become more rebellious,

more insolent.

The purpose of this boycott

is very evident.

They want to wreck the economy

and bring our government down.

[ overlapping conversations ]

Congress rejected the petition.

There will be no stopping

the uprisings now.

The boycott is working.

They're afraid, and it's showing.

It's not easy.

We have thousands of supporters

all over the country.

We can do this.

So, I tried.

Followed your advice.

Did not work.

So now, the next message I send

will be unmistakably clear.

Alto ya!

Vamos!

Ya!

Vamos ya!

Aydanos!

Ms duro!

[ yelling ]

Saquen los nios!

Sangre de Cristo!

[ gunfire, yelling ]

No! No! Stop it! No!

[ gunfire ]

[ yelling fades ]

[ footsteps ]

Thank God, Adriana.

You're so lucky.

They thought you were dead.

Calles is a monster.

I know.

We must find another

peaceful solution.

Anacleto, the armed conflict

has already begun.

I say we support the rebellion.

They'll need food, medicine.

And ammunition.

We can support them

with communication and funds...

[ murmuring ]

but we will not fight.

I kneel the first time.

Ring.

[ rings bell ]

Then when I bring the Host up here,

ring the bell.

[ rings bell ]

And then I go down again.

Right?

[ sighs ] Finally.

He's teaching me to be an altar boy.

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