‘Sacré Coeur,’ a film on St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, draws 400,000+ viewers in France, sparking controversy and debates over secularism.
Newsroom (14/11/2025 Gaudium Press ) A new docudrama about the Sacred Heart of Jesus, “Sacré Coeur: His Reign Will Have No End,” has taken France by storm, drawing over 400,000 viewers since its Oct. 1 release and igniting a firestorm of controversy. The film, which chronicles the 17th-century apparitions of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Paray-le-Monial, has shattered expectations, with theater lines unseen in years, while facing accusations of violating France’s secular principles.
Directed by Steven and Sabrina Gunnell, the film marks the 350th anniversary of the apparitions, blending historical reenactments, expert analysis, and personal testimonies from a diverse cast, including a traditionalist priest, a former drug dealer, prisoners, and parliament members. The Gunnells, inspired by a visit to the Paray-le-Monial shrine, aimed to highlight the enduring relevance of the Sacred Heart devotion. Steven, a former member of the 1990s French boy band Alliage, converted to Catholicism and now produces faith-based films with his wife.
The shrine, managed by the Emmanuel Community since 1985, hosts tens of thousands of pilgrims annually and recently celebrated a jubilee for the apparitions’ anniversary, tied to the late Pope Francis’ 2024 encyclical, “Dilexit Nos,” on the divine love of Christ’s heart. The film’s success, however, has not come without criticism, both from within the Catholic Church and from secular authorities.
Church Critique: Jesuit Omission
Within Catholic circles, the film has drawn scrutiny for omitting the Jesuit connection to the Sacred Heart devotion. St. Margaret Mary’s spiritual director, St. Claude La Colombière, canonized in 1992, was a Jesuit, yet the film does not mention his affiliation. French Jesuits, speaking to OSV News, expressed regret, noting the Society of Jesus’ pivotal role in promoting the devotion globally. The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, rooted in Jesuit spirituality, engages over 22 million Catholics across 92 countries. Critics argue that acknowledging the Jesuits would have underscored the devotion’s universal scope.
Secular Backlash: “Christianophobia” Allegations
Outside the Church, the film has faced significant pushback, with director Steven Gunnell labeling the resistance as “Christianophobia.” Public institutions, citing France’s strict secularism laws, have restricted the film’s reach. In Marseille, a scheduled Oct. 22 screening at the municipal Château de La Buzine cinema was canceled minutes before its start, with authorities citing a “violation of the principle of secularism.” Le Monde reported the decision was based on the film’s “religious nature” being incompatible with public spaces.
Similarly, MediaTransports, the advertising agency for France’s SNCF and RATP, rejected a promotional poster campaign in metro and train stations, calling the project “religious and proselytizing” and at odds with public service neutrality, according to Le Figaro. These incidents have fueled heated debates about the place of religion in France’s public square.
A Cultural Phenomenon
Despite the controversies, “Sacré Coeur” has resonated deeply with audiences. Le Figaro, in a Nov. 3 feature, described the film as evidence of a “discreet but real return of religion in French society,” noting that theater attendance has surged at a time when cinemas have struggled. La Croix hailed the film’s “unprecedented” popularity for a documentary of its kind, crediting word-of-mouth buzz and a diverse audience that transcends traditional Catholic circles.
Father Pascal Ide, a Paris priest and online film critic with doctorates in medicine, philosophy, and theology, praised the film in La Croix on Oct. 29, saying it “dusts off, decompartmentalizes, and depoliticizes” the truth of Christ’s love. In an OSV News interview, he added, “There is something for everyone. What is certain is that it has a considerable impact, which speaks volumes about the expectations of an audience that goes beyond practicing Catholics.”
Catholic magazine La Vie called the film a “popular catechism” with a missionary dimension, noting that many French bishops have promoted it on diocesan websites. Viewer Jean-Michel, quoted by Le Figaro, described the film as “an inner journey, an encounter with the living love of the heart of Jesus.”
A Broader Context
The film’s success comes as France grapples with its Catholic heritage amid a secular framework. Le Monde, in an Oct. 29 article, expressed surprise at the film’s reach, given its “low-budget” nature and niche target audience, while highlighting its perceived “political” undertones. Yet, for many, the film signals a revival of Catholic identity in the public sphere.
Across the Atlantic, the U.S. Catholic bishops voted on Nov. 11, during their fall plenary assembly in Baltimore, to consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 2026, marking the country’s 250th anniversary. The decision underscores the devotion’s global resonance, even as “Sacré Coeur” continues to spark debate in France.
As lines grow longer at theaters and controversies persist, “Sacré Coeur” stands as both a cultural phenomenon and a lightning rod, challenging France to reconcile its secular identity with its Catholic roots.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from OSV News
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