The new film Father Flanagan takes a deeper look at the famous founder of Boys Town

CNA staff, August 19, 2024 / 06:00

Many are familiar with the story of Father Edward J. Flanagan from the 1938 Oscar-winning film “Boys Town” starring Spencer Tracy. Now, a new documentary about the famous priest promises a deeper look into Flanagan’s life when it hits theaters for one night only on October 8.

“Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story” documents Flanagan’s unwavering commitment to caring for abandoned and orphaned youth from the Great Depression through World War II, all while defying racist laws to you would serve the most vulnerable and give them hope for a future. The film covers a wide range of topics, from Flanagan’s health problems to his immigration to the United States to the founding of Boys Town, Nebraska.

The feature documentary was produced by Spirit Juice Studios in partnership with the Father Flanagan League and shot on location in Ireland, Germany, Austria, Japan and the United States. It also includes expert commentary from Steve Wolf, vice postulator for the cause of Flanagan’s beatification and canonization, as well as Deacon Omar FA Gutierrez, Father Ryan Lewis and Ed Flanagan, Flanagan’s great-grandson, among others. The film is narrated by the popular Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie, known for his role as Jesus Christ in “The Chosen Ones”.

Rob Kaczmark, the film’s co-director and executive producer, and producer Victoria McEachern spoke to CNA about their experience working on the project, as well as how Flanagan influenced them personally and what they hope viewers will take away from his story inspired.

McEachern pointed out that while many of the larger themes of Flanagan’s life are well known, it was the “smaller moments” she learned during the film that really stood out to her and give the documentary more depth.

“For me it was those small, quiet moments,” she shared. “Father Flanagan was this great personality who was incredibly well known and he was also a very quiet, holy, giving and generous man.”

She added that we can also continue to learn from Flanagan — especially when it comes to the injustices we face in society today.

“He was really ahead of his time when he spoke out against issues of segregation and racial justice,” McEachern said. “Recognizing how he behaved in situations like this in the past, even now, informs how we deal with injustices today.”

Kaczmark added that Flanagan serves as “a powerful example of calling people to be holy” and hopes viewers will be inspired to “recognize the issues in things in their own lives and where God calls them to serve and lead people.”

McEachern hopes viewers will be inspired “by one man’s example”.

“There is so much going on in the world and in our small communities. And so to see the difference – and he did, he had really tangible impacts in a lot of different areas – to see the difference that he made and that he was so selfless about it and that ultimately he started in the chapel every morning and with the person right in front of him,” McEachern said.

Asked what they thought Flanagan would do today when faced with the inequities prevalent in our society, McEachern said she believed he would “continue to push for the person in front of him. He would continue to see the need in front of him and encourage all of us and say let’s do something about it, even if it was risky.”

Kaczmark added: “I think he would gently invite them to holiness, to Christ, while serving them at the same time. And I think that’s what we’re called to do as Christians, Catholics—is to serve those in front of us and point people back to Christ. We are not the saviors, we are the hands and feet of Christ on earth, ultimately pointing people back to heaven.”