"Courageous Faith in the Killing Fields"
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What You Need To Know:
BEYOND THE GATES is mesmerizing but difficult to watch. It has an extremely strong Christian worldview. Father Christopher explains the faith in the resurrection of Jesus in a clear, biblical fashion. He continues to hold church services because he believes that faith is more important than works, but by his faith he shows his works. The filmmakers should be commended, but it would have been nice if they had left out the foul language and more graphic violence.
Content:
(CCC, BBB, H, LL, VVV, N, A, D, MM) Extremely Christian worldview with a Catholic priest explaining the faith, expounding on the Resurrection, clarifying the Eucharist, and eventually dying for Jesus Christ, plus one moment during a siege of a Catholic school where the question is asked, “Where is God," by one of the teachers and another moment where the priest erupts in anger at the killing fields; 13 obscenities, many of which are "f" words," two Oh, my God type profanities; extreme violence showing a decapitated body, mobs of Hutus slashing women and children and men with machetes, pointblank shootings, beatings, many images of dead bodies, priest delivers baby in crowded room, and scenes of dogs eating dead bodies, but no first-hand, Hollywood glamorization of violence; no sex; very minor naturalistic nudity of children; light drinking; smoking; and, extreme racism, deception and heinous government officials.
More Detail:
BEYOND THE GATES starts off with a quote about finding the key to Heaven, which the quote notes is also the key to Hell. Then, it proceeds to tell the story of the Rwanda genocide in 1994 when the Hutus killed over 800,000 Tutsis in cold blood.
This powerful and emotionally nerve-wracking movie opens up at a Catholic school in the capital of Rwanda. Joe, a young British teacher, is full of enthusiasm. Father Christopher is a man of strong faith who has seen too often the fallenness of man.
Within a very short period of time, the world around the school starts to fall apart. The United Nations monitoring troops station themselves at the school. When the Hutu president’s plane crashes, the Hutus go on a warpath against the Tutsis. Many Europeans and Tutsis take refuge in the school. The Hutus surround them with clubs and machetes.
Each foray into the town in the school truck by Joe or Father Christopher gets increasingly perilous. At one point, Joe, who does not go to mass, questions the existence of God. Father Christopher explains the faith in the resurrection of Jesus in a clear, biblical, almost evangelical fashion. His best and brightest students have accepted Jesus Christ. He continues to hold church services because he believes that faith is more important than works, but by his faith he shows forth his works.
When the U.N. clears out with the Europeans, Joe abandons the school, but Father Christopher stays with the flock. Years later, one young black girl who survives finds Joe at a posh school in Europe and asks him how he could have left.
There are many stories about Father Christopher. In the movie, he is very human at times. He curses the U.N. for allowing the genocide. He confronts the Hutus with love and a stern warning. This is not a movie about the Resurrection. It doesn’t have a feel-good ending. It’s a movie about Christ and bearing each other’s burdens, willing to die for your enemies and your friends. It is one of the most difficult movies ever made to watch.
The movie could be highly recommended were it not for some of the foul language, most of it by a BBC crew. There’s a clear distinction between the people of faith and the pagans, except at the point Father Christopher loses his temper at the UN officer.
Watching BEYOND THE GATES is more like watching a documentary. It has a you-are-there feel. It is also intensely emotional. The acting and the music serve the story.
The filmmakers are to be commended, but it would have been nice if they opened up the movie to a broader audience by being slightly more restrained. In this regard, HOTEL RWANDA, which is not as Christian, serves a broader audience and makes many of the same points about the Rwanda genocide.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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