A Review of Broken
Mary: The Kevin Matthews Story by Olszyk
Distribution Service: Theatrical
MPAA Rating, Not rated at the time of this review
OSV Rating, Not rated at the time of this review
Reel Rating, Three and a Half Reels
Disclaimer: Boken Mary will be in theaters for one night,
October 7th, through Fathom
Events.
I had never
heard the name Kevin Matthews before this film came across my desk; I was born
in an age when radio personalities were already losing their cultural
influence. Yet for my parents’ generation, especially in the Midwest, he was as
familiar as coffee and eggs at breakfast. Yet when the fame and fortune left,
Kevin – like so many of the saints – hit rock bottom only to find that God has
much bigger plans, this time involving a discarded statue and a powerful testimony
that he still preaches today.
Kevin came
from a horrific background; his father was physically abusive and mother
largely apathetic. One of his earliest memories of God was pleading for death
so he could have some peace. Fortunately, he found comedy instead, which became
a way to escape his trauma. In college, he volunteered at the local radio
station, where he would try out outlandish characters between songs. By his
early twenties, he had his own morning radio show, which gradually became
essential listening for millions wanting to take the edge off on their way to
work. He interviewed celebrities, did cameos on shows like Baywatch, frequently
dropped in on Oprah, and lived a hedonistic lifestyle without a thought
for anyone else. Then came the internet. Like Job, he lost everything all at
once. After twenty years on air, he was fired with only two weeks’ notice, then
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis days later. Like the Prodigal Son, the good
times came to a sudden stop, and he discovered that his life was empty and had
been for a long time.
Like so
many of his generation, he was raised nominally Catholic but hadn’t given God a
second thought in decades. Then one fateful afternoon, he discovered a large,
abandoned statue of Mary in the garbage outside a florist shop. She was chipped
all over and broken in two at the waist. He heard a voice in his head that
encouraged him to return to faith. He went to confession for the first time in
fifty years, then promptly repaired that statue but left some parts broken to
remind him of his fallen state. He began a new calling, taking the “Broken
Mary” statue on tour to talk about his conversion and inspire others to return
to Jesus through Mary. The fame and wealth never returned, but instead he
received peace, forgiveness, reconciliation with his family, and – for the
first time– joy.
Broken
Mary is a short documentary, just over an hour, but its quick pace and
smart writing makse it feel like ten minutes. Kevin is a natural storyteller,
and it’s easy to see why he appealed to so many. He knows how to setup and
payoff a tall tale, often discussing some sordid detail of his early life –
like organizing a large charity golf event that only raised a few thousand
dollars because they spend it all on alcohol and strippers – then comparing it
to doing God’s work through his ministry. Most of the film is just him talking
with reenactments of his story, occasionally with interviews from friends and
colleagues. It’s the perfect medium and length for a man who cut his teeth on
radio, devoid of dead air.
When he
gives talks at churches and schools, Kevin always brings the Broken Mary statue
with him, often wheeled in on a gurney like a hospital patient. While Mary
herself did not sin, she understands intimately the pain and suffering of her
children. We, like the statue, were made beautiful and whole, yet we are broken
by sin. Fortunately, Christ can repair us, and Mary will bring us to her son.
It’s not a novel message in the Catholic tradition, but seeing the image of the
broken statue combined with Kevin’s testimony has proven quite powerful. Director
Jonathon Cipiti, whose credits include the fantastic Dating
Project, interviews several people who had radical conversions and even
medical miracles after encountering the ministry.
Towards the
end of the film, Kevin expresses his hope that Broken Mary will become an
“official devotion” of the Catholic Church, claiming he is “working on it.” I’m
not sure what this process involves, but who knows? Kevin’s story does mirror a
saint that Pope Leo XIV mentions in nearly every public
address, so it might appeal to him. In the meantime, it’s always a good
idea to come to Mary. She brough Kevin to Christ, and she will do the same for
you.
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