Movie of the Month [April] - Pilgrim's Progress: Journey to Heaven

Marcelo Bastos
May 1
4 min read

Introductory Reflection

This month, I would like to share a film that I came across unexpectedly—and which, to my surprise, stayed with me. It is not a film I would have actively searched for, nor one that presents the fullness of the faith as we understand it as Catholics. Yet, it contains something worth noticing.

As fathers, we are called to be attentive not only to what enters our homes, but also to how we interpret it. Not every good thing is complete, but even partial truths can stir something deeper—sometimes becoming the beginning of a journey.

This film is shaped by a Protestant perspective, and it is important to say that clearly. I approach it from a Catholic point of view, with the conviction that the fullness of truth subsists in the Church. As John Henry Newman famously wrote:

“To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant.”

And as G. K. Chesterton observed:

“The difficulty of explaining ‘Why I am a Catholic’ is that there are ten thousand reasons all amounting to one reason: that Catholicism is true.”

There is, however, something valuable in recognising how the desire for truth often begins. A person becomes aware that something is not right—that there is a burden, a disorder, a need for salvation. This is where many journeys start. What works like this film (and the book from which it comes) can do well is to make that awakening visible.

What they do not fully show is where that journey finds its fulfilment: in the truth entrusted to the Catholic Church, and in the grace given through the sacraments. It is there—not by our own effort alone—that the path reaches its true end.

With that in mind, this film can still serve as a point of reflection—a reminder of the first step: recognising that we are, in fact, on a journey.

Pilgrim’s Progress (2008) promotional artwork. Directed by Danny Carrales. Source: IMDb. Available at: View image on IMDb (Accessed: 1 May 2026). — *Pilgrim’s Progress* (2008) promotional artwork. Directed by Danny Carrales. Source: IMDb. Available at: View image on IMDb (Accessed: 1 May 2026).

Movie Details

Title: Pilgrim's Progress: Journey to Heaven

Year: 2008

Synopsis:

A modern-day retelling of John Bunyan’s classic allegory, the film follows Christian, a man burdened by the knowledge of impending destruction after reading the Bible. Despite rejection from his family and community, he sets out on a journey from the “City of Destruction” toward the Celestial City, seeking salvation and relief. Along the way, he encounters various characters and obstacles that symbolise spiritual trials, illustrating the struggles, temptations, and perseverance involved in the life of a believer (Carrales, 2008; IMDb, 2008).

Distributor: DRC Films

Viewing Link:

Reference: Carrales, D. (2008) Pilgrim’s Progress: Journey to Heaven. United States: DRC Films. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1000768/ (Accessed: 27 March 2026).

Background and Adaptation

The film draws from The Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan and first published in 1678. Bunyan was an English preacher who did not conform to the Church of England. Because he preached without official permission, he was imprisoned for several years, during which he wrote much of this work.(Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024 – https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Bunyan)

The Pilgrim’s Progress presents the Christian life as a journey from sin toward salvation, using symbolic characters and places to describe spiritual realities in a simple and direct way.(Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024 – https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Pilgrims-Progress)

The 2008 film adapts this structure into a modern setting. While Bunyan’s original text is consistently explicit in its religious language, the film begins with more general expressions—“the book”, “the Owner”, “the Celestial City”—and gradually becomes clearer, eventually naming Scripture, biblical figures, and Jesus Christ. This offers a gentler entry point for viewers who may not be familiar with the original work [which was my own case].

Personal Notes

In the first 30 seconds of the film, it felt very theatrical—almost like a type B production. But that impression did not last long. I was surprised at how quickly I became engaged and found myself identifying with the main character.

The film stayed with me the next day. I found myself starting conversations about it even 24 hours later, which is usually a sign that something has spoken more deeply.

What stood out most was how familiar the journey felt. We often think our struggles are unique, but the film quietly shows that many of us carry the same burdens and the same desire to be set right. There is something honest in that.

I was not familiar with Bunyan’s original work before watching this. One detail stayed with me: at the beginning, everything is described in general terms—“the book”, “the Owner”, “the Celestial City”. As the journey progresses, things become clearer. Psalms are spoken, biblical figures are mentioned, and finally, the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ is pronounced.

It is helpful to keep in mind who John Bunyan was. He lived outside the established Church of his time and was imprisoned for preaching without its approval.(Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024 – https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Bunyan)

In recent years, I have become more attentive when engaging with Protestant sources. There is a desire to grow in a more Catholic way of seeing—understanding the Church as the visible expression of God’s reign on earth. At the same time, it seems honest to recognise that such works can still lead us to Scripture and to Our Lord.

This remains something I am trying to understand. The Protestant chapter within the history of salvation is, for me, still a mystery.

Closing Line

A simple film, but one that may quietly open space for reflection within the family.