The gripping story based on Saint Josemaria Escriva called There Be Dragons opens in theaters and it’s a must see for drama lovers. It’s a film of Saints and sinners, war and romance that puts its weight on the power to forgive. I liked the film for the knowledge of the period, the development of characters and direction by writer Roland Joffe.
The biographical story follows Robert Torres (Dougray Scott), a young journalist writing a story on Josemaria Escriva (Charlie Cox) a Spanish priest about to be canonized as a Saint. In his investigation of the facts he finds that his estranged father Manolo (Wes Bentley) was associated with Josemaria. After some soul searching the long separated Robert decides to contact Manolo in a last ditch effort to get at the truth of Josemaria’s past. During this interaction we see the story flashed back through Manolo, now a dieing man, who harbors a dark secret about his sins and the Saint.
The story consumes you from the very start as we meet the young Manolo and Josemaria growing up in the same town. Both living different kinds of lives of upper class vs. middleclass they find themselves growing apart. Manolo’s parents push him away from those beneath him until the final separation, one going to the priesthood and the other taking refuge with his family. When the Spanish Civil War starts to rear it’s ugly head, Joffe’s characters chose sides.
Joffe (The Killing Fields, Vatel) does a brilliant job with his story intertwining war, politics and religious suffrage. Making his characters fighters in all facets I felt like I was being dragged between fascism, communism and Christianity. When he brings the threads of deceit, deception, cruelty and honor together in his finale, the climax puts your mind in a wringer of sorrow and disbelief. It plays out like a novel you cant put down till the last page is turned.
There Be Dragons is rated PG 13 for Violence and combat sequences, some language and thematic elements.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A thought-provoking drama that torches the screen. (A)
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
