darkeyes
Nov 21, 2010, 8:16 PM
I have just ended up in floods and floods of tears after watching the film "Priest", written by Jimmy McGovern.
It is an immensely sad tale of a Roman Catholic Priest played by Linus Roache beautifully and sensitively, and his conflict over his homosexuality and his developing relationship with a local gay guy (Robert Carlyle). Yet at the end it is wonderfully uplifting and the final scene of some parishioners cursing and swearing and condemning the priest out of hand as an abomination and an insult to their religion made me at once angry and yet gave me much hope.
The very end of the scene depicts a young girl, who having been sexually abused by her father to whom both father and daughter had confessed, being the only parishioner prepared to take communion from the young priest. It is beautifully shot and depicted and seeing the priest break down and cry, and the young abused girl do likewise and watching them fall into each others arms is a scene which will live with me forever. Watching that scene was when I lost all control of my tear ducts.
The depiction of a very progressive priest (himself having it away with his housekeeper) is another terrific performance by Tom Wilkinson, and if the Roman Catholic Church had in its leadership half as decent a man in its hierarchy maybe it would not find itself so divorced from its flock and from society for that matter.
I heartily recommend this film for anyone with half an ounce of decency as an example of a film about compassion,human sexuality and intolerance. It often seems very dark, yet the final scene is wonderfully uplifting for those of us who are not straight.
Being an old British film, I dont know how easy it will be for those in the US to see it, or pourchase a DVD.. but it is worth the watch.. if u can find it, and get an opportunity to see it.. do so. You wont be disappointed!!!
It is an immensely sad tale of a Roman Catholic Priest played by Linus Roache beautifully and sensitively, and his conflict over his homosexuality and his developing relationship with a local gay guy (Robert Carlyle). Yet at the end it is wonderfully uplifting and the final scene of some parishioners cursing and swearing and condemning the priest out of hand as an abomination and an insult to their religion made me at once angry and yet gave me much hope.
The very end of the scene depicts a young girl, who having been sexually abused by her father to whom both father and daughter had confessed, being the only parishioner prepared to take communion from the young priest. It is beautifully shot and depicted and seeing the priest break down and cry, and the young abused girl do likewise and watching them fall into each others arms is a scene which will live with me forever. Watching that scene was when I lost all control of my tear ducts.
The depiction of a very progressive priest (himself having it away with his housekeeper) is another terrific performance by Tom Wilkinson, and if the Roman Catholic Church had in its leadership half as decent a man in its hierarchy maybe it would not find itself so divorced from its flock and from society for that matter.
I heartily recommend this film for anyone with half an ounce of decency as an example of a film about compassion,human sexuality and intolerance. It often seems very dark, yet the final scene is wonderfully uplifting for those of us who are not straight.
Being an old British film, I dont know how easy it will be for those in the US to see it, or pourchase a DVD.. but it is worth the watch.. if u can find it, and get an opportunity to see it.. do so. You wont be disappointed!!!