'Moving' film on Cristero war debuts in Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico, Apr 23, 2012 / 11:04 am

The much anticipated movie “Cristiada,” which recounts the story of the Cristero war in Mexico during the religious persecution of the 1920s, was released in Mexico on April 20.

“This movie is not only going to be entertaining, it also has great potential,” said actor Eduardo Verastegui said. “It is a film that is very balanced, commercial and moving.”

The Mexican actor praised the film’s cinematography and artistic quality, under director Dean Wright and lauded “great acting by a big cast including great actors.”

The movie also stars Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Peter O’Toole and the Panamanian singer Ruben Blades in the role of anti-Catholic Mexican president Plutarco Elias Calles.

Verastegui, who stars as Blessed Anacleto Gonzalez Flores in the movie, told reporters his character “was a consistent and coherent layman who always acted in accord with his beliefs and was polite and educated. He used all these resources to defend freedom and the faith, which was the center of his life.”

“This touched my heart, it inspired and challenged me,” he said.

“Morally speaking, the film underscores what is good, beautiful and true in history,” Verastegui added. “This will set a precedent.”