In this time when social media and artificial intelligence challenge our true connections and relationships with each other as human beings, in a time when political violence has people in society wondering what we’re coming to as a nation, comes Broken Mary, a film that powerfully reminds us that we are all broken in one way or another. Kevin Matthews’ story also assures us that, broken as we are, we are loved and redeemed by Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Broken Mary releases to theaters through Fathom Entertainment on October 7th for one night only. For more information about the film, check out their website here.
If you lived in the Chicago area in the 80s and 90s, you’ve probably heard of Kevin Matthews. Outside that, maybe, maybe not. Matthews was a radio personality before the days of iPods and podcasting, when anyone on their morning commute to work would tune in to a news station, their favorite music, or the local morning show.
A compelling documentary, Broken Mary follows Matthews’ story from childhood in Michigan when he coped with abuse from his father by talking to imaginary friends and to God. Dyslexic, he made it his mission to make others laugh so he didn’t get bullied, and so his dad wouldn’t hit him.
In college, his life changed when he subbed once for his roommate at the school’s radio station. After that day, radio became his passion so much so that he made it his career, successful beyond belief, despite some bumps in the road along the way.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, MS, he was fired by the radio station after 35 years of being on the air. Thus began another major life change, one that would change him from a “zombie Catholic” (as he described himself) to a witness to the transformative power of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
One day, Matthews decided to stop at a flower shop to get flowers for his wife. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something behind the shop’s dumpster. Investigating, he found a statue of Mary, busted in two, scraped up and discarded. When he asked the shop’s owner if he could buy it, he was told it was a family heirloom. Matthews was persuasive and the owner finally sold the broken Mary statue to him.
He had the statue glued together so that it was all one piece, but Matthews specifically requested that none of her other flaws be mended. He felt Jesus saying to him, “I’m going to love you, together with my mother, and she’s going to clean you up.”
Matthews tells that “Broken Mary,” as he began calling her, became like the volleyball, Wilson, was to the Tom Hanks character from Castaway. He confided in the Blessed Mother and began telling the story to his friends and pastor. The man who was once famous for his radio shows, now becomes “Mary’s Roadie,” famous for his testimony to the hope that can be found when we acknowledge our brokenness and call upon Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, for healing and forgiveness.
Broken Mary is in theaters for one day only, October 7th. Check Fathom Entertainment for information on how to see the film.