Exclusive Clip from ‘There Be Dragons’
Posted on October 27, 2010 at 3:58 pm
“There Be Dragons” is an epic film about war, tragedy, love, and redemption, from acclaimed director Roland Joffé of “The Mission” and “The Killing Fields.” It is the story of two childhood friends who find themselves on opposite sides during the Spanish Civil War, one a priest trying to bring peace and the other a soldier driven by jealousy and anger. The son of one of the men is a journalist in the present day who tries to find out about the relationship between his father and a man who is now a possible candidate for sainthood. Joffé was drawn to the project because he was intrigued by the chance to dramatize the life of a modern-day saint, particularly considering Escrivá’s ‘liberating’ view that a path to God could be found in an ordinary life.” Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, was canonized in 2002. The film stars Charlie Cox (“Stardust”), Wes Bentley (“American Beauty”), and Derek Jacobi (“I, Claudius”).
Release is expected worldwide in Spring 2011. We are privileged to have an exclusive early peek.
How / where did you get this cut of the movie?
– Henrique Cal (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Thanks, Henrique — it was provided by the publicist for the film.
It’s interning how the release of the movie is delayed. Are they afraid of a blow back from the ongoing Maciel “movement” scandal, a “movement”that was copied from Escriva’s “work”? Enough of this self-serving scientology-like “movement” propaganda.
AT writes “It’s interning how the release of the movie is delayed. Are they afraid of a blow back from the ongoing Maciel “movement” scandal, a “movement”that was copied from Escriva’s “work”? ”
No, I do not think this has anything to do with it. It is not uncommon for big films to be held up for release in the spring.
Opus Dei or the “work” is not structured like the Legion of Christ. A different focus. Both groups are quite positive; however both are strong brew but not for everyone. Not quite for me and obviously not for you.
You call worshiping a recurrent, unrepentant abuser (Maciel) as a living saint “positive”? We don’t need scientology-like “movement positivity”, just because the psychological trickery they use is a great way to turn people into zombies that fork $$$ in exchange of “feeling special”. This has nothing to do with our Faith. This new relativism in guise of “orthodoxy” is a threat to the Church just as much as extremes of liberation theology was. IMO.
AT writes “You call worshiping a recurrent, unrepentant abuser (Maciel) as a living saint “positive”?”
“Worshiping?!!” You come across to me as a bogus ass.
I wrote that the groups are positive, nitwit.
Did not say you were worshiping Maciel, but that they were. Its juts a fact: they read and meditated every day, every word of Maciel, celebrated his birth day, his mother, etc etc.. The movement was built to protect him, as members were made to make a 4th vow of “charity” that meant absolute obedience to never criticize Maciel. In “the way” Escriva gives a similar definition of “charity”, based only on movement obedience. Chill man, just look them up. Insults are not going help win arguments. Love God and neighbor is the commandments we need to head, no?
AT “Did not say you were worshiping Maciel, but that they were.”
If you say so, and maybe somebody did. But the few people I know in Regnum Christi do not seem to be doing that or to have done that as far as I can tell.
As I wrote earlier Opus Dei is not for me, but it may be for others. I do plan to see this movie, however.
“I do plan to see this movie”
Fine. I also know members of Regnum Christi and Opus Dei. I don’t have anything against these members, they are trying hard to be good Catholics. It’s just that as lay we need to have our eyes open. There are people that want to use our Faith to push their agenda, by using classic psychological trickery (e.g. cult like methodologies). And that is wrong. Both movements do this; fortunately one is now under direct Vatican reform. But the battle is not over, because they control $billions and have sway in the curia. So, in this time of all Souls and all Saints, lots prayers for the Pope and the Church, and for the intercession of those in heaven.
Thanks Roland for making this movie! Although I am not Catholic and do not know much about St. Josemaria, it looks inspiring and I’ll watch it when it comes out.
I started researching Opus Dei when the Da Vinci Code came out and what I found out was that Josemaria Escriva had a very simple message–make every minute of every day sacred to God. I try to do that anyway, I just didn’t realize someone had started a whole movement around the idea! So I’m very curious to see how Opus Dei started and how Escriva came up with his message.
I was so excited to support this movie initially because Davince Code was so brazen in its lies that I wanted to support any effort towards the truth but also because I started to learn more about St. Jose Maria Escriva and now have a deep admiration for what this saint went through to bring the simple message to the world of how to find God in your everyday life.
I’m really excited to see this movie.
Thanks for sharing!
– Matt
This looks like a GREAT movie! I think we could all stand to see a movie where, despite our failings and faults, we can all strive to be great saints! Interesting that Joffe, who I believe is an agnostic, made a movie about turning to God and faith to help us through our individual and daily struggles.
Can’t wait to see “There Be Dragons”!
“make every minute of every day sacred to God” Jesus commanded to Love God and neighbor. God did not command to love minutes. For over 1000 years, Opus Dei meant, and continues to mean Work of God in the Catholic Church. It was defined in the rules of St Benedict to simply mean the prayer life of religious, The Work of the Church, versus opus hominis, the work of men. Escriva turned this around, and made work of men the new religion. In his movement, people are made to worship an abstract notion of “little things”, that can lead away from doing the two commandments. This is despite the fact that Christ said very clearly that one can not serve 2 masters. Jesus rebuked Martha for focusing too much on her work. Jesus also made a distinction of giving to Caesar what that is to Cesar, and to God what is to God. Plus Escriva said: “The standard of holiness that God asks of us is determined by these three points: Holy intransigence, holy coercion and holy shamelessness.” Where does that come from??? There is little to no backing of that in the Church tradition, certainly not as the primary path to holiness. This is not Christianity. This is just as bad as the worse of liberation theology. One can not turn vices into virtues; such relativism is used in Escriva’s movements to justify pretty any kind of behavior, as long as it serves “The Work” or “La Obra”. Plus members are under a tight command and control system that operates outside Church canon law. This leads to all sort of abuses. These methods were copied by Maciel, so he could lead a double life of abuse. So the message may appear “simple”, but there is way more to this. Escriva’s work needs serious revisions and re-examinations, the same way the Church is attempting to do with Maciel’s movement. Prayers for the Pope and the Church, for guidance from the Holy Spirit.
To AT: I hope that the Holy Spirit guides you in life. If you are not able to understand the greatness that Opus Dei has brought to millions of people, you can use it. He was made a Saint by John Paul II, and that should be enough. With all due respect, and my prayers
“He was made a Saint by John Paul II,”
I have great respect and admiration for John Paul II, none for the speed up and very irregular process of Escriva’s “canonization”. I will pray for the hundreds of people in the movement.
Ah yes; the question and issue of discipleship. Some do very well in a group, some do not do well at all.
Thanks, AT and Goodguyex, for your thoughtful and spirited exchange. I think of the quote from Don Marquis: “An idea is not responsible for the people who believe in it.” The best and worst of humanity may be that our ideals are so often ahead of our ability to live up to them.
So can’t wait to see this film!
love the movie! Very inspiring story of our choices in life.
Joffe appears, from this clip, to have a genuine admiration for St. Josemaria – and a wonderful perception of “dragons” that sometimes cross all of our paths. I’m looking forward to seeing the entire story. The shots in this clip suggest the film does, indeed, have an epic look.
This looks like a great movie. I love Roland Joffe’s movies so I am sure this will not disappoint!
I saw a rough cut of the film and LOVED IT! Two thumbs up! The quality, acting and script are excellent.