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So which Hanssen is the real one? Breach thankfully doesn't answer that question. Instead, it seems to realistically present the case that no man is truly good or evil—but has the capacity for both. Hanssen is a man torn. Seemingly a patriot, he's also a traitor. Seemingly a follower of God, he also thinks he is a god. Seemingly a family man, he's also a pervert who shares covertly-recorded sex tapes of himself and his wife. The film ends with an amazing image of a man fallen—and knowing it.

Both men have good reason to look over their shoulders

Because of that, some viewers will see this movie as yet another Hollywood attack on Christians as judgmental and hateful hypocrites. And it's true: Many jaded non-Christians could easily see the movie's Hanssen—and thusly, the real one—as more evidence of the true ugliness of Christians. After all, the bad guy is shown praying often—and the good guy and his wife state that they'd much rather go to a movie than church. So, Christians don't look great here—except for Hanssen's devout wife, who gives a great speech about desiring to be a fully devoted Christian and not one who only selects the convenient parts to believe.

Coming on the heels of the very-public fall of Ted Haggard, some audiences will feel their view of Christians as archaic and intolerant is again confirmed. After all, Hanssen says things like "God expects you to live your faith" followed by judgments like "I don't approve of women in pant suits." He is shown praying—and then harshly bashing homosexuals and abortion-advocates. He condemns the actions of many, but is also guilty of equally disgusting sins.

Because the movie is based pretty faithfully on real events and people, it does prove that Christians like this exist. We'd all admit it. But hopefully the majority of viewers will move past any possible connotation about all Christians to a larger message about all humans. At best, the film can be seen as an illustration of Mark 7:20-23 andJames 1:14-15—demonstrating how evil in the human heart sets dangerous sin traps which can ensnare anyone, including those trying to live a godly life.

And that truth makes it so much more relieving that the movie (and the real story behind it) ends with a man who sees darkness, temptation, and a side of himself he doesn't like … and turning away from it.

Talk About It

1. Do you feel the movie attacks Christians? Would you feel the same if it were a fictional story? Why or why not?
2. Could someone leave the theater and accuse all Christians of being like Hanssen? Looking at the movie as a whole, what do you think it says about Christians? Christianity? Catholics?
3. Read Mark 7:20-23 and James 1:14-15. What comparisons do you make between these verses and Breach?
4. What requirements of an FBI life would you have a difficult time making? What requirements or concessions do you have to make in your work life that make you feel uncomfortable? At what point, if any, would you walk away?

The Family Corner

Breach is rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language. While the violence is limited to one intense scene of gunplay, the sexual content includes very frank discussion of suspected sexual crimes and one scene of a homemade and grainy porn tape with very brief nudity. The film's language includes several profanities, taking the Lord's name in vain, and derogatory terms for homosexuals.

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