• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
St. Anthony Mary Claret (played by Antonio Reyes) blesses Lucas (Joseph Ewonder), a slave, in “Slaves and Kings.” (Stellarum Films)

Movie Review: ‘Slaves and Kings’ looks at life of 19th-century Spanish saint

August 15, 2022
By John Mulderig
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Movie & Television Reviews

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

En Español

NEW YORK – The social strife that roiled Spain, both during the 19th century and in the lead-up to that nation’s tragic 1936-39 civil war, serves as the background for the biography “Slaves and Kings” (Bosco). This chronicle of the varied life of St. Anthony Mary Claret (Antonio Reyes) is framed by research about him carried out in the Depression era, 60 years after his 1870 death at age 62.

The investigation is the work of left-wing author and journalist José Martínez Ruiz, who wrote under the pen name Azorín (Carlos Cañas). He’s reevaluating the calumnies advanced against Claret, during his lifetime, by his powerful enemies.

To achieve a balanced assessment, however, Azorín will have to overcome not only his anticlerical inclinations but the disapproval of his literary peers. (In fact, Azorín seems to have veered between liberalism and conservatism over the course of his career, eventually conforming – at least outwardly – to the Franco regime, though there’s little indication of this on screen.)

Through the lens of Azorín’s inquiry, we’re shown the multifarious roles Claret took on following his ordination to the priesthood.

Always a dedicated evangelist, he was also, by turns: founder of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, better known as the Claretians; archbishop of Santiago, Cuba; and confessor to Queen Isabella II (Alba Recondo). His tenure in the latter office, as depicted here, was a challenging one.

Informative but stiff, director Pablo Moreno’s portrait highlights its subject’s opposition to slavery, his freedom from material concerns and his desire to steer clear of his homeland’s tempestuous politics. It’s an edifying retrospective. Yet the film is marred by awkward dialogue, the unnaturalness of which is, perhaps, exaggerated by the decision to dub the film into English rather than use subtitles.

Still, Claret’s many achievements shine through these aesthetic blemishes. In an age when positive priest figures are a rarity at the movies, Catholic viewers will welcome this exception to the rule.

“Slaves and Kings” is being released by Fathom Events and will be screened Monday, Aug. 22, in English and Tuesday, Aug. 23, in Spanish. For theater information, go to: www.fathomevents.com/categories/inspirational.

Look for: A reverent tone and inspirational content.

Look out for: Brief violence with slight gore, the aftermath of battle and of a lynching, mature themes, including adultery and illegitimacy, a couple of mild oaths and a single crass term.

The Catholic Moviegoer’s guidance is T – suitable for mature teens. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.

Read More Movies & Television

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘Freakier Friday’

Movie Review: ‘The Naked Gun’

Review: ‘Art Detectives,’ streaming, Acorn TV

Movie Review: ‘The Bad Guys 2’

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Movie Review: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

John Mulderig

Formerly a staff member for Catholic News Service, John Mulderig has been reviewing visual media from a Catholic perspective for 15 years. His column is syndicated by Catholic Review Media. Follow his reviews on Twitter @CatholicMovie.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • The ‘both/and’ pope

  • Patrick Brice sentenced to home detention for attacks on elderly pro-life supporters

  • Statue of Confederate general known as anti-Catholic to be reinstalled in nation’s capital

  • Movie Review: ‘The Naked Gun’

  • Gun buyback exceeds expectations, previous totals

| CURRENT EDITION |

CR digital edition

| Vatican News |

Pope says he hopes Trump-Putin meeting leads to ceasefire in Ukraine

Hope is knowing God is always ready to forgive, pope says at audience

Pope prays world leaders recognize their responsibility for peace

Works of mercy are best way to invest what God gave you, pope says

‘Rerum Novarum’ 2.0? Catholic labor advocates heartened by Pope Leo’s direction

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

| Movie & Television Reviews |

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘Freakier Friday’

Movie Review: ‘The Naked Gun’

Review: ‘Art Detectives,’ streaming, Acorn TV

Movie Review: ‘The Bad Guys 2’

| En español |

Cardenal salvadoreño: ‘Queremos vivir la democracia’

León XIV: Pontífice de las fronteras y los puentes

‘No tengan miedo de hacer lo que El Señor quiere para nosotros’

Dios quiere ayudar a las personas a descubrir su valor y dignidad, dice el Papa

El ‘Padre Migrante’ nos relata su vida sirviendo a comunidades inmigrantes

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Baltimore NBCC leader among People of Life awards winners
  • Pope says he hopes Trump-Putin meeting leads to ceasefire in Ukraine
  • Sisters of Life ‘are the very mirror of God,’ cardinal says as 3 take perpetual vows
  • For Gazans, the deep silence of hunger has replaced noise of daily life
  • Hope is knowing God is always ready to forgive, pope says at audience
  • Images of Mary: Can we find the Blessed Mother in the Old Testament?
  • Report: Christian church attacks down, but recent totals still higher than 2018-2022
  • How public opinion can influence migration policies
  • Question Corner: Is it simony that my parish wants to charge a fee for having a funeral livestreamed?

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en