GOD THE FATHER
An inspiring redemption story, meant for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
GOD THE FATHER tells a powerful story of redemption. Michael Franzese describes how loyalty to his father led him into the Mafia, where he rose through the ranks and became trapped in a violent way of life. His eventual journey to Christ gives the documentary its strong Christian message.
The film’s content is serious. It includes graphic depictions of mob violence, bloodshed, and Christ’s crucifixion, along with Mafia themes, a blood oath, crime, and imprisonment. Those scenes make this unsuitable for children and young teens, even though the film clearly rebukes the wrongdoing it portrays.
If you are an adult who can thoughtfully engage with intense material, this documentary offers an encouraging testimony about Jesus changing a life. The practical answer: WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESMichael Franzese recounts how devotion to his imprisoned father led him to join the Mafia. He quickly rises within the crime family, but marriage and his growing desire to leave place him in danger.
As Michael faces court battles and imprisonment, his life reaches a crisis point. A Bible given to him by a prison guard begins a journey that changes how he understands manhood, sin, and Jesus Christ.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a worthwhile, well-structured documentary with notable creative strengths. GOD THE FATHER combines live interviews, archival footage, animation, reenactments, and dramatic interpretive dance to tell Michael’s story.
The variety of storytelling modes gives the film an engaging shape. Its strongest quality is the testimony at its center: a former Mafia leader openly describing his movement from crime toward faith in Christ. The film’s message is powerful, even though its violent material limits the audience.
The Worldview
GOD THE FATHER has a very strong Christian worldview. It presents Michael’s acceptance of Christ as the decisive turning point in his life and emphasizes repentance, Scripture, evangelism, faithful marriage, and the power of God to redeem someone deeply involved in crime.
The film does not celebrate the Mafia way of life. Revenge, greed, moral relativism, blood oaths, blackmail, extortion, tax fraud, racketeering, and family dysfunction are presented as part of a destructive world and are ultimately rebuked. Michael’s reading of the Bible in prison and his testimony about Jesus’ sacrifice provide the documentary’s moral center.
The film connects redemption with a changed life. As Scripture says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian worldview as a reformed mobster shares his story in accepting Christ, with images of a whipped and bruised Jesus carrying the Cross and His crucifixion, with strong biblical, moral elements as repentant mobster changes his ways and reads Bible in prison, plus wife faithfully loves and waits years for him to be released; no foul language; very strong violence graphic at times as both real life men and animations are shot at point blank range with blood spattering; no sex; upper male nudity; alcohol sitting on table but not consumed; no smoking or drug references; and, revenge, greed, moral relativism, the Mafia way of life is presented, a blood oath is taken, father puts Mafia hit out on son, blackmail, family dysfunction, multiple arrests, imprisonment, man promoted within Mafia crime family, racketeering, extortion, tax fraud, and a son drops out of college and joins Mafia, but all rebuked
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Michael’s life changes as he reads the Bible in prison. What place does Scripture have in changing the way we think and live?
Romans 12:2 · Hebrews 4:12Michael’s wife faithfully waits for him through years of imprisonment. What does faithful love look like when circumstances are painful and uncertain?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Galatians 6:9The film presents the Mafia’s violence, greed, and revenge as wrong. How does Jesus call His followers to respond differently?
Matthew 5:43–48 · Romans 12:19–21Michael shares what Christ has done in his life. What does it mean to testify about God’s work while still giving Him the glory?
Psalm 66:16 · 1 Peter 3:15The Final Word
GOD THE FATHER is a creative, insightful testimony about redemption through Jesus Christ. Its strong Christian message is surrounded by graphic violence and disturbing crucifixion imagery, so it belongs with discerning adults rather than children or young teens. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
