Priest
Reviews
dePeatrick
Good Movie, good acting, has not dated as much as you would expect.
Filipe Manuel Neto
**A complex film, with a script that covers many issues at the same time.** Before I start writing my review, I think I should leave a note of personal context: I am a Catholic, a regular practitioner, and I live in a country where almost all the population also declares themselves Catholic, although with fluctuating regularity in the mass, a youth increasingly strange to faith and spirituality (or permeable to different ways of living it) and a growing number of foreign immigrants with other beliefs. Therefore, I see this film with the eyes of someone who belongs to the Church and who knows it deeply. The film brings us a very intense and dramatic story where, after replacing another older priest, a reasonably orthodox and rigorist young priest is confronted with an older coadjutor who has radically different ideas. In addition to this ideological clash, the young priest will have to fight against his own homosexual impulses, ending up falling into temptation and disgrace with his superiors and community. In between, there is also an issue about the celibacy of one of these priests and another, involving a minor sexually abused by an incestuous father. I can understand how uncomfortable this film was for Catholics in 1994. Even though the film was released thirty years ago, its story could not be more current. In 1994, the Church was still guided by John Paul II who, despite the merit of having traveled, faced complex political and social issues and opened the corridors of the Vatican to the world, was also ultra-conservative in moral matters. Today, Pope Francis invites us to adopt a more open and understanding position, as we see in his most recent encyclical, “Fiducia Supplicans”, where he invites the acceptance not only of homosexuals, but also of divorced and remarried people. Remembering the unifying role of the Church, where everyone must find a place to speak with God regardless of their sins, the Pope invites us not to condemn them, which does not mean that homosexual acts have ceased to be a sin in the eyes of the Church. What the Supreme Pontiff reminds us is that it is God who must judge sins, not us. Of course, there has been a lot of controversy around this, and if the Pope's words of tolerance can still scandalize the faithful and clergy today, imagine what this film would have done thirty years ago! In addition to this, we have the confrontation between pure orthodoxy and the socialist ideas of Liberation Theology, which in the 90s still existed among some theologians and priests in South America and some African countries, in addition to a strong “nip” at the issue of celibacy, mandatory for Catholic priests and increasingly contested, including by themselves, given its unnatural nature. Not being a moral or dogmatic issue, the Pope can change this rule whenever he wants, but Francis is not that liberal. The script, as we can see, is very rich and raises very complicated questions, not only from an ecclesiastical point of view but also from a moral point of view. However, I felt that the film, by going off in so many directions, ended up not exploring any of them and focusing more on the “gay friendly” plot, which would be easier to sell at the box office. Remember that it was at this time that the homosexual movement took its first steps in Europe, imported from the United States. The second part of the film is particularly poorly done, with excessive melodrama and weak solutions to all the problems previously created. Technically, the film is quite good: the cinematography is average, but the sets and costumes make up for it, as does the careful way in which the liturgy was recreated and staged. The pacing is pleasant, considering things as they are, and the nude scenes are reasonably tolerable in the context in which they are found. Linus Roache heads a strong and competent cast, and does a very worthy job. However, Tom Wilkinson seems stronger and more impactful, and steals the spotlight whenever they both work together. Cathy Tyson and Robert Carlyle give us good supporting performances.
CinemaSerf
“Fr. Greg” (Linus Roache) arrives at his new parish determined to look after the spiritual well-being of his flock in a more traditional sense than his fellow priest “Fr. Matthew” (Tom Wilkinson) who adopts a more user-friendly and free-thinking approach (especially with their housekeeper “Maria” (Cathy Tyson). Initially, there is a well-ordered conflict between the two men, but gradually an element of mutual respect creeps in which might prove useful for the new lad as it turns out that what he wears from the back of his wardrobe takes him into a life that isn’t exactly approved by his church. A meeting with “Graham” (Robert Carlyle) soon challenges his hitherto set-in-stone priorities and some subsequent police involvement leads to a reckoning with himself, his church and it’s congregation. Roache delivers well as his character has to try and reconcile his true self with that of his faith but I found Wilkinson to be the more impressive as a man who took a pragmatic view of teachings that hadn’t moved with the times, of hypocrisy, double-standards and naïveté. There’s also a rather disturbing sub-plot that gives us some indication of just how tough the job of being a confessor could be - and that’s well exemplified by the trio of Robert Pugh, Lesley Sharp and a poignant effort from Christine Tremarco as we head to a denouement that is quite thought-provoking in a 1990s where tolerance had little to do with legality, and where forgiveness, compassion and understanding could be in very short supply. It’s sparingly scripted, but there a few scenes where the punchy dialogue tests attitudes across the community and though it probably spends a little too long getting going, it’s cinema that rocks the boat a bit, and that’s a good thing.
Movie Recommendation
Safety Last!1923-04-01When a store clerk organizes a contest to climb the outside of a tall building, circumstances force him to make the perilous climb himself.More...
Beautiful Thing1996-06-21During a long, hot summer on the Thamesmead Estate in Southeast London, three teenagers edge towards adulthood.More...
Tom of Finland2017-02-24Touko Laaksonen, a decorated officer, returns home after a harrowing and heroic experience serving his country in World War II, but life in Finland during peacetime proves equally distressing. He finds peace-time Helsinki rampant with persecution of the homosexual and men around him even being pressured to marry women and have children. Touko finds refuge in his liberating art, specialising in homoerotic drawings of muscular men, free of inhibitions. His work – made famous by his signature ‘Tom of Finland’ – became the emblem of a generation of men and fanned the flames of a gay revolution.More...
Inside Deep Throat2005-02-11In 1972, a seemingly typical shoestring budget pornographic film was made in a Florida hotel: "Deep Throat," starring Linda Lovelace. This film would surpass the wildest expectation of everyone involved to become one of the most successful independent films of all time. It caught the public imagination which met the spirit of the times, even as the self-appointed guardians of public morality struggled to suppress it, and created, for a brief moment, a possible future where sexuality in film had a bold artistic potential. This film covers the story of the making of this controversial film, its stunning success, its hysterical opposition along with its dark side of mob influence and allegations of the on set mistreatment of the film's star.More...
It's All So Quiet2013-04-24The story of a farmer who realizes that his life has been influenced to an unhealthy extent by his aging father.More...
We Were One Man1979-11-28During the final days of World War II, a simple French peasant rescues a wounded German soldier and nurses him back to health. As their playful camaraderie grows, two young men who should be enemies begin to bond in ways neither thought possible.More...
In & Out1997-09-10A midwestern teacher questions his sexuality after a former student makes a comment about him at the Academy Awards.More...
G.B.F.2014-01-17The bitter fight for supremacy between the three most popular girls at North Gateway High takes an unexpected turn when their classmate, Tanner, is outed and becomes the school’s first openly gay student. The trio races to bag the big trend in fashion accessories, the Gay Best Friend, while Tanner must decide whether his skyrocketing popularity is more important than the friendships he is leaving behind.More...
The Conference2023-10-13A ragtag group of public sector employees battle not only their own discord but also a bloodthirsty killer during a seemingly innocuous retreat.More...
Somewhere in Time1980-10-02Young writer Richard Collier is met on the opening night of his first play by an old lady who begs him to "Come back to me". Mystified, he tries to find out about her, and learns that she is a famous stage actress from the early twentieth century. Becoming more and more obsessed with her, by self-hypnosis he manages to travel back in time—where he meets her.More...
Go1999-04-09A supermarket clerk decides to step in for an absent drug dealer, setting off an explosive, comedic chain of events.More...
Philomena2013-11-01A woman searches for her adult son, who was taken away from her decades ago when she was forced to live in a convent.More...
Eragon2006-12-14In his homeland of Alagaesia, a farm boy happens upon a dragon's egg -- a discovery that leads him on a predestined journey where he realized he's the one person who can defend his home against an evil king.More...
The Best Offer2013-01-01Virgil Oldman is a world renowned antiques expert and auctioneer. An eccentric genius, he leads a solitary life, going to extreme lengths to keep his distance from the messiness of human relationships. When appointed by the beautiful but emotionally damaged Claire to oversee the valuation and sale of her family’s priceless art collection, Virgil allows himself to form an attachment to her – and soon he is engulfed by a passion which will rock his bland existence to the core.More...
Carol2015-11-20In 1950s New York, a department-store clerk who dreams of a better life falls for an older, married woman.More...
Another Round2020-09-24Four stagnant high school teachers decide to test out a theory that maintaining a constant level of intoxication will improve their overall lives.More...
Romeo + Juliet1996-11-01In director Baz Luhrmann's contemporary take on William Shakespeare's classic tragedy, the Montagues and Capulets have moved their ongoing feud to the sweltering suburb of Verona Beach, where Romeo and Juliet fall in love and secretly wed. Though the film is visually modern, the bard's dialogue remains.More...
Oppenheimer2023-07-19The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer's role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.More...
Titanic1997-12-18101-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater tells the story of her life aboard the Titanic, 84 years later. A young Rose boards the ship with her mother and fiancé. Meanwhile, Jack Dawson and Fabrizio De Rossi win third-class tickets aboard the ship. Rose tells the whole story from Titanic's departure through to its death—on its first and last voyage—on April 15, 1912.More...
Joker2019-10-01During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.More...
Similar Movies
Displaced Perssons
2013-08-23Per Persson left Sweden 40 years ago. In Pakistan he fell in love and became the father of two daughters. Trouble starts when the girls grow up and the family decides to emigrate to Sweden. When they end up living in a caravan outside Hässleholm, all their expectations are dashed.Army Nurse
1985-01-02The stories of a group of women training to become military nurses.The Ninth Day
2004-11-11During WWII, head priest Henri Kremer is mysteriously freed from Dachau. He learns that he can return home to Luxembourg, for only nine days, during which he'll have to face a persuasive Gestapo chief who will put his faith to the test.Freeway
1996-08-23Following the arrest of her mother, Ramona, young Vanessa Lutz decides to go in search of her estranged grandmother. On the way, she is given a ride by school counselor Bob Wolverton. During the journey, Lutz begins to realize that Bob is the notorious I-5 Killer and manages to escape by shooting him several times. Wounded but still very much alive, Bob pursues Lutz across the state in this modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.The Secret Garden
1993-08-13A young British girl born and reared in India loses her neglectful parents in an earthquake. She is returned to England to live at her uncle's castle. Her uncle is very distant due to the loss of his wife ten years before. Neglected once again, she begins exploring the estate and discovers a garden that has been locked and forgotten. Aided by one of the servants' boys, she begins restoring the garden, and eventually discovers some other secrets of the manor.My Beautiful Laundret...
1985-11-16A young Pakistani Briton manages a rundown laundrette with his lover while dealing with tension in his family, the local Pakistani community, and a persistent mob of skinheads.Fatherland
1994-11-26Fictional account of what might have happened if Hitler had won the war. It is now the 1960s and Germany's war crimes have so far been kept a secret. Hitler wants to talk peace with the US president. An American journalist and a German homicide cop stumble into a plot to destroy all evidence of the genocide.A League of Their Own...
1992-07-01As America's stock of athletic young men is depleted during World War II, a professional all-female baseball league springs up in the Midwest, funded by publicity-hungry candy maker Walter Harvey. Competitive sisters Dottie Hinson and Kit Keller spar with each other, scout Ernie Capadino and grumpy has-been coach Jimmy Dugan on their way to fame.Paper Moon
1973-05-09During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl who may or may not be his daughter, and the two forge an unlikely partnership.The World According t...
1982-07-23A struggling young writer finds his life and work dominated by his unfaithful wife and his radical feminist mother, whose best-selling manifesto turns her into a cultural icon.Engel & Joe
2001-10-25A love story of a 17 year old punk-rocker and a 15 year old runaway girl.Close The Last Door
2007-03-23After being best man at his best friend's (Saitou Toshihisa) wedding, Nagai Atsushi realizes that he might have fallen for him. Nagai, drowning in his sorrows and hatred for the new bride then meets Honda Kenzou, another guest at the wedding. Honda takes care of Nagai when he was dead drunk and now Nagai can't stop thinking of both Honda and Saitou.The Soul Master
1917-05-28Deserted by his wife Arline, who absconds with their baby daughter Ruth as well, Robert Travers loses all faith in women. Years later, Travers, now known as the man without a soul, is the owner of a chain of department stores in which young Ruth Carroll is employed as a ribbon clerk. Finding himself strangely attracted to the girl, he takes a fatherly interest in her and offers Ruth a position in his office. Laura Wilson, who wants Travers for herself becomes jealous and tries to lure the girl away but Travers comes to realize she is his own daughter.Farewell My Concubine...
1993-01-01In an epic tale of theater, gender, love and class, two Beijing opera actors navigate political turmoil as their friendship evolves over decades.Awakenings
1990-12-04Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy research physician, uses an experimental drug to "awaken" the catatonic victims of a rare disease. Leonard is the first patient to receive the controversial treatment. His awakening, filled with awe and enthusiasm, proves a rebirth for Sayer too, as the exuberant patient reveals life's simple but unutterably sweet pleasures to the introverted doctor.Narc
2002-01-14Narcotics Sergeant Nick Tellis, on leave after a trauma, is called back to investigate the murder of fellow undercover operative Michael Calvess, joined by the victim's unpredictable and brutal ex-partner, Henry Oak. Working together in the back alleys of Detroit, Tellis and Oak delve into a dark investigation that leads them to uncover shocking secrets and question the corruption and morality within the department, encountering unorthodox methods and a brutal truth about Calvess's death.Thirteen
2003-08-20When 13-year-old Tracy befriends Evie, the most popular girl in school, her life is turned upside down as Evie introduces her to a world of sex, drugs, and money. But it isn’t long before Tracy’s new lifestyle begins to take a heavy toll on her and her family.The Postman Always Ri...
1981-03-20The sensuous wife of a lunch wagon proprietor and a rootless drifter begin a sordidly steamy affair and conspire to murder her Greek husband.Ghosts
2014-06-26Helene Alving leads an outwardly contented life. On the eve of the 10th anniversary of her husband's death, she is about to open an orphanage as a memorial to him. To mark this occasion, her bohemian painter son Oswald has returned from Paris. Helene plans to take the opportunity to tell Oswald the truth about his father. But ghosts of the past erupt during an eventful evening, bringing the facade of civilised family life crashing down.Housebound
2000-09-02A woman with a tragic past rents her bungalow to a man who loves cooking, but according to her distorted mind he uses his knives more than he should.