Film Tonight on Catholics Fighting Persecution in French Revolution

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Published on Monday, 12 November 2012 14:48

The War of the Vendée, about a six year struggle by Catholics in the Vendée section of France to fight back against religious persecution during the French Revolution, will be shown Monday night free in the lecture hall on the AMU Campus at 7 p.m. The director, Jim Morlino, who used only children in his film to play every role, including those of the adults, will be present.

The uprising in the Vendée was sparked when the Catholic faith in that area was repressed: priests were made to sign loyalty oaths to the Revolutionary government or face persecution; women were beaten on the way to mass; sacred vessels were confiscated; and crosses were even disallowed on graves. The people responded by forming a "Catholic Army" and fighting in a heroic effort that went on for six years, and which ended when the Republican army triumphed against them and the area was virtually wiped out in a punitive effort that has been likened to modern warfare of General Sherman, or by some, as genocide.

Director Jim Morlino (left), a Catholic father of six, who lives in Connecticut, has made several films, all of them using children to play all the roles, even those of the adults. He will be answering questions at the end of the showing.

A trailer of the movie can be seen by clicking here: