“When the government outlawed faith,” the tag lines reads, “the faithful became outlaws.” Powerful words for what looks to be a powerful movie: Cristiada, a retelling of the 1926 uprising in Mexico in which faithful Catholics fought to keep Mexico from becoming a secular state.
Major Latino actors from two continents star in this film…including Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives), Rubén Blades, (Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Secuestro Express), Andy Garcia (Oceans Eleven) and Catalina Sandina Moreno, Academy Award nominee for Maria Full of Grace. And the Latino talent continues behind the camera to include screenwriter Michael James Love, director of photography Eduardo Martinez Solares (Winner of the Circle del Oro at Cannes), and award-winning costume designer Maria Estella Fernandez. By the look of the new trailer, producer Pablo José Barroso has made a stunning beautiful and intense film, with the help of award-winning production designer Salvador Parra (Before Night Falls, Romeo + Juliet, Volver).
Director Dean Wright, nominated for the Academy Award for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, shot the film in six diverse states of Mexico over a grueling 12-week period last summer and fall. “You’ll be happy to hear,” Wright said in September, “that we finished shooting exactly on schedule–to the day.” No small fear for a period piece filled with action and drama.
You can get background on the true story, the film, and its stars here. A release date for Cristiada has yet to be announced.
