A banner depicting slain bishop Juan José Gerardi, displayed at an April 26, 2010, rally to mark the 12th anniversary of his murder. (AP Photo / Moises Castillo)
A new HBO documentary on the legacy of Guatemalan Catholic bishop Juan Gerardi, who was murdered in the aftermath of the country’s long civil war, highlights the role of Catholic clergy in the fight for democracy in Central America.
“There are a lot of negative stories, films, and documentaries about the Catholic Church that get made. I was attracted to the idea of this not being that,” said director Paul Taylor. “I started to see that some of the issues at the heart of the case were still very relevant today and still very relevant outside of Guatemala,” he added.
“The Art of Political Murder” – Well crafted [MOVIE REVIEW]
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Protestors march against the assassination of Bishop Gerardi. Photo courtesy of HBO
“The Art of Political Murder,” directed by Paul Taylor, based on Francisco Goldman’s book of the same name, is filmmaking in its highest form. This documentary will leave you breathless from the breadth and depth of its storytelling. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is life-changing, revealing unheard of cruelty as well as unbelievable bravery.
Guatemala endured a civil war from 1960 until 1996 led by its right wing military dictatorship against various leftist rebel groups supported by Mayan and Ladino peasants. Most of the military aggression was centered on the indigenous people and over 200,000 were killed or “disappeared.” Worth noting, although not mentioned in the film, the fervent anti-communism of the military government was supported financially by the United States throughout the war. It was a U.
A new HBO documentary on the legacy of Guatemalan Catholic Bishop Juan Gerardi, who was murdered in the aftermath of the country’s long civil war, highlights the courageous role of Catholic clergy in the fight for democracy in Central America. It also offers a model for struggling democracies today.
“There are a lot of negative stories, films and documentaries about the Catholic Church that get made. I was attracted to the idea of this not being that,” said director Paul Taylor in a Zoom interview with Religion News Service last week.
“I started to see that some of the issues at the heart of the case were still very relevant today and still very relevant outside of Guatemala,” he added.
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Guatemalan Catholic Bishop Juan Gerardi. Photo courtesy HBO
VATICAN CITY (RNS) A new HBO documentary on the legacy of Guatemalan Catholic Bishop Juan Gerardi, who was murdered in the aftermath of the country’s long civil war, highlights the courageous role of Catholic clergy in the fight for democracy in Central America. It also offers a model for struggling democracies today.
“There are a lot of negative stories, films and documentaries about the Catholic Church that get made. I was attracted to the idea of this not being that,” said Director Paul Taylor in a Zoom interview with Religion News Service on Thursday (Dec. 10).