- Content: “How a Broken Man Became a Crusader for Christ”
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Watch:
What You Need To Know:
BROKEN MARY is engaging and inspiring. It places a big emphasis on Christian, biblical values. Kevin Matthews recalls the debauchery of his younger years before highlighting just how much he has changed since placing Jesus at the center of his life. It’s clear that Matthews has had a complete transformation, something he fully attributes to the Lord. At the same time, Matthews declares in the movie that Jesus can transform the life of anyone who believes and trusts in Him, no matter what they have done or undergone. BORKEN MARY is free of questionable content. MOVIEGUIDE® finds BROKEN MARY a wholesome, redemptive movie for families.
Content:
Very strong Christian, biblical, moral worldview from a Roman Catholic Christian perspective in a documentary as man shares what his faith has meant to him (though he used to live a very self-centered, hedonistic life, he has since turned things around and now lives fully for the Lord), man talks extensively about how his faith has redeemed his life and turned him from a broken man into someone who is whole, man now shares the Gospel across the country, using his testimony to connect with others who feel helpless, a broken statue of the Virgin Mary inspires the movie’s title character;
No foul language, though a handful of epithets are bleeped;
References to Kevin’s dad beating him and his mother;
No sex;
No nudity;
Kevin refers to heavy drinking earlier in his life;
Kevin makes references to smoking and doing drugs when he was younger; and,
Some references to heavy partying, destruction of property, stealing, and arson, but rebuked.
More Detail:
The documentary begins with Kevin’s early life which was full of brokenness. Growing up in a tough home and an abusive father, Kevin learned early in life to protect himself by being mean and funny. He used comedy as a shield, even when he went off to college, which served him well once he got involved in his school’s radio station. Kevin was able to hone the craft throughout his four years and found work at a radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan right after college. He would not stay there long, however, as the popular Chicago-based station, The Loop, caught wind of his talent and offered him a job.
It was in Chicago that Kevin’s career would really soar, and he would become an industry icon. With a great ear for music along with an alluring personality, Kevin’s show continuously rose in ratings. Eventually, he was reaching more than 10 million people per week and had a devout fanbase throughout Chicagoland (a marketing term that people use for Chicago and its environs). His success brought more high-quality talent to the station and eventually The Loop had a strong lineup for the entire day.
Seeking to find some purpose in his success, Kevin began philanthropic efforts such as raising money for charity and donating diapers to struggling moms. His largest event was an annual golf outing. It raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and drew some of the largest celebrities of the day. However, this event would highlight his bad side as destruction of property would eat up all the proceeds, leaving only a few thousand dollars to donate.
As the years pass, Kevin’s team began to fall apart. Eventually, he left Chicago and returned to running a radio station in Grand Rapids. Shortly afterwards, however, his life would change forever when he became paralyzed one day. After being brought into a doctor’s office, the doctor diagnosed Kevin with Multiple Sclerosis. Kevin then lost his job because he was unable to work.
The next few years would bring pain as Matthews floated through life unsure of what to do next now that he was out of the radio business. At the same time, however, God began to speak into his situation and show up in miraculous ways. Matthews, however, continued to write these experiences off and go back to his sinful ways of living.
One encounter would radically change his life, however. One day while driving, God prompted Kevin to stop and buy flowers for his wife. While in the parking lot, Matthews saw a statue of the Virgin Mary that was broken and battered. In that moment, he saw himself in the statue as someone who was broken but also capable of being redeemed and becoming an ambassador for Christ.
Since that experience, Matthews’ life has never been the same. He purchased that statue and created the Broken Mary Project. The Project helps people find hope in hopeless situations through Kevin’s story and the image of a broken Mary. The organization has touched millions of lives, including a handful who share their testimony at the end of the movie.
BROKEN MARY: THE KEVIN MATTHEWS STORY is an engaging, inspiring documentary that excellently captures the before and after of Kevin’s encounter with God. Kevin was a man of the world for the first decades of his life, but he now lives for a different purpose. Though his sins were great, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was sufficient to forgive and redeem him, something Kevin doesn’t take for granted. The movie strongly stresses this fact as Kevin laments his past while also sharing the Good News that’s transformed his life. In the documentary, Kevin is extremely clear that it’s only through Jesus Christ’s power that he’s been made new. He also declares that a transformation like his is available for anyone and everyone. Happily, BROKEN MARY is free of questionable content like obscenity, profanity or strong descriptions of Kevin’s previous debauchery. So, MOVIEGUIDE® finds BROKEN MARY a wholesome, redemptive movie for families.
