VOA标准英语2012--'For Greater Glory' Dramatizes Mexican War

 

'For Greater Glory' Dramatizes Mexican War

In 1926, the newly-elected president of Mexico banned religious activities, with special focus on the country's most widespread faith: Roman Catholicism.

As soldiers shut churches and arrested priests, opposition¹ to the government's policies grew into a nationwide revolt. The leaders turned to a retired² war hero, General Ernesto Gorostieta, to make their ragtag band into an army.

Andy Garcia stars as General Gorostieta and, like the character, he says the cause went beyond individual beliefs.

"You don't have to be a man of faith or a Catholic, for that matter, to be in this movie," Garcia notes. "Nor do you have to be one to go see the movie. The character is a historical, heroic character in terms of the film and to be called upon to play him is a great privilege and you want to honor him. He deserves to be recognized for what he committed to."

Born in Cuba, Garcia was five years-old when his family immigrated³ to Florida to escape Castro's authoritarian⁴ government. He says that history gives him insight into what motivated the Cristeros rebels in Mexico.

"There are certain parallels in this movie to my own life, obviously, because I come from a country where religious freedom, for many years, was completely taken away," he explains. "I mean the Church is in Cuba now, and they have kind of peeked⁵ their head in there, but for many years it wasn't allowed at all. So it's an easy cause for me to champion because to me it is more about absolute freedom of the human being."

For Greater Glory was filmed in Mexico at many of the locations where the actual events took place, but where, until recently, they were not included in history books or taught in schools. The international cast includes Oscar-winner Peter O'Toole along with a 'who's who' of Latino actors from Mexican Eduardo Verástegui and Chilean Santiago Cabrera to Panama's Rubén Blades and American Eva Longoria.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句

4 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

5 peeked   

v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出

参考例句：

• She peeked over the top of her menu. 她从菜单上往外偷看。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• On two occasions she had peeked at him through a crack in the wall. 她曾两次透过墙缝窥视他。 来自辞典例句