Reel Faith Vs. Real Faith: Catholicism In The Movies
(ANALYSIS) “Write what you know,” is advice given to many who feel inspired to take up the pen — or, these days, sit at a computer. When it comes to writing about religion, though, including the Catholic Church, it’s amazing how little some writers know (including those who are Catholic themselves).
This is especially evident — and disturbing — in some movies, where scenes depict liturgies or other expressions of faith and get them wrong.
This lack of attention to accuracy skews the public perception of Catholicism’s beliefs, and it instills in those watching the narrative unspoken misconceptions about the doctrine professed by over one billion people around the globe.
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Here’s a few examples:
“Wonka” (2023): Admittedly, this is one of those films I would not pay to see. It was broadcast on television during the holidays, though, and I sat through it just to see how awful it was. When Rowan Atkinson appeared as a corrupt cleric, in a confessional, with “monks” dedicated to protecting a secret stash of chocolate, I cringed. The tale could have been told without that bizarre element and been just as strange.
“Boondock Saints” (1999) / “Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day” (2009): Both these movies draw heavily on Catholic practices and get them wrong. The director, Troy Duffy, had a difficult time bringing the original to the screen and, perhaps, should have used that extra time to research his material more thoroughly. The tale of two Irish brothers in Boston taking the law into their own hands, setting out to kill those they view as “evil” has been done before, and the amount of bullets fired is ridiculous and excessive.
The opening scene of the first, implied to take place during a St. Patrick’s Day Eucharistic celebration, could have been left on the cutting room floor. The fraternal twin protagonists wear rosaries around their necks as a sign of their “dedication” to their cause — at least, in the first, these are correctly configured.
In the sequel, Duffy has opted for inaccurately beaded versions, possibly to promote replicas sold to fans on the movies’ website. Voiceovers quoting statements like, “The three shall spread their blackened wings and be the vengeful, striking hammer of God,” try to justify sins that the Church would never condone — yet, in the sequel, a priest is actively involved in sanctioning the continued work of these “Saints.”
“Dogma” (1999): Kevin Smith, who wrote and directed this script, was raised Catholic. When the film was released, it sparked protests around the country because of its irreverent approach to Catholicism.
That the late comedian George Carlin, also raised Catholic, appeared as a golf-obsessed cardinal, confirmed some comedic elements in the tale, but the exiled angels who are the focus of the narrative engage in a course of vengeance against those they judge as sinners, with a considerable body count as a result. There is also a scene when one of the angels is talking with a woman religious, and her costume is absolutely ludicrous.
“Sister Act” (1992) / “Sister Act II: Back in the Habit” (1993): A key issue with the first movie is how the order of the liturgical celebration is wrong. The priest gives his homily, then introduces a musical interlude, which doesn’t happen at Mass.
Making the music more … lively to encourage worship is one of the story’s main premises, but that could have been achieved within the proper context. In the sequel, the Franciscan friars serving at the school are just laughable in their ineptitude.
“Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” (1986): This is my personal favorite of the Star Trek films. The scene at the Cetacean Institute where the crowd is viewing the whales through glass — with Spock swimming in the tank — shows two women religious wearing such silly veils, and it always distracts me from the story. The director could have skipped their inclusion, or the costume designer could have created something a bit more realistic.
“The Sound of Music” (1965): This is, perhaps, one of the best known movies with a Catholic backdrop, and the writer and director did an admirable job of being respectful to tradition, except for the early scene where the Benedictine nuns are at prayer in church.
They file in as the singing has already begun. Then, after the abbess and her companions have already left the church, the singing continues. It’s a minor flaw, and can be attributed to “literary license.” But accuracy surrounding how these communities have gathered in prayer for centuries could have been observed.
Hopefully, this list will serve as a reminder to those who enjoy movies that scenarios presented — not only from a faith perspective, but overall — should be taken with a grain of salt. And assumptions about the attitudes and behavior of fictional characters shouldn’t overshadow real interaction with people of every belief system.
Nor was it the intent to bash all movies that depict Catholicism. Here’s a list of a few “oldies but goodies,” worth a watch for their blend of humor, perseverance and respectfulness to Catholic-oriented detail.
This article was originally published by FaVS News.
Julie A. Ferraro is a communications professional who works extensively with Catholic religious communities. Originally from South Bend, Indiana, she is a mother and grandmother. She has been a journalist for more than 35 years and continues her studies of both Benedictine and Franciscan spirituality.