:
Gael García Bernal,
Gael García Bernal,
Sancho Gracia,
more...
:
Carlos Carrera,
Carlos Carrera
see all cast/crew...
: 
: Columbia TriStar
: Drama, Foreign, Politics and Social Issues, Spain, Latin America, Mexico
: 119 min.
: English, Spanish
: English, Spanish, French
see additional details...
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A priest discovers the path of virtue can be steep, and temptation can demand a heavy price, in this controversial drama from Mexico. Father Amaro (Gael Garcia Bernal) is a young Catholic priest whose mentor, the Bishop (Ernesto Gomez Cruz), expects great things from him. However, like all priests, Amaro must first be assigned where he is needed most, which leads him to the small rural community of Los Reyes, where Amaro is to assist Father Benito (Sancho Gracia). To his shock, Amaro discovers Benito is hardly following Holy Law -- he's having an affair with Sanjuanera (Angelica Aragon), a woman who runs a local restaurant, and he's been helping a drug dealer launder his profits in exchange for large donations to the church, which Benito feels is justified as the funds are being used to build a hospital and orphanage for the poor. Amaro is disgusted with Benito's actions, but he soon discovers his own weaknesses when he falls in love with Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon), Sanjuanera's teenage daughter. As Amelia finds herself falling for Amaro, she breaks off her relationship with Ruben (Andres Montiel), a reporter. Ruben responds by publishing a story which reveals the details of Benito's dealings with the drug dealers; Benito in turn tries to lay the blame at the feet of noble Father Natalio (Damian Alcazar), whose work with local peasants has been wrongly interpreted as supporting armed revolutionary factions. As Amaro tries desperately to distance himself from the growing scandal, he receives shocking news from Amelia when he learns she's pregnant with his child. The Crime of Father Amaro's portrayal of corruption within the Catholic Church led to an outcry from Catholic organizations, both in Mexico and the United States, where they attempted to organize a boycott of the film. However, the tactic failed in Mexico, where the controversy helped to boost ticket sales, making it the highest-grossing Mexican film ever in its native country. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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| not so black and white
by ypolita
September 7, 2004 - 11:10 PM PDT
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| the kid from amores perros is impossible to believe as a priest! I think it might be offensive to some because it does seem to be asking about the merits of celibacy and maybe that "forcing" priests into celibacy as the father amaro words it, perhaps causes more pain and despair than is intended and maybe the church should look at this. So I would think some die-hard catholics might be offended by this questioning. I think the movie is not looking at the concept of hypocrisy so much as questioning the church. One character is excommunicated who really does seem truly good and religious, while the one who are in power within the church, because they are following the rules to the letter, are the true corrupt ones. I liked the conecpt but it is hard to get inside characters heads. It is impossible to know if the character of Father Amaro is really in love with the girl or if he is just using her. He is protrayed as being very ambitious but there is something about him that seems caught in the crossfire, and maybe he is an innocent after all who just wants to help. It is a strange characterization. |
| Anti-Catholic "NOT" But Facile and Non-Involving
by Frodo
May 14, 2003 - 12:38 PM PDT
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4 out of 6 members found this review helpful
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I likewise heard the claims of Anti-Catholicism. As a Gay man who was Baptized, Confirmed, Educated and Married in the Catholic Church, I find such claims as uneducated hogwash. This film does try to portray the hypocrisy that has existed in the church for thousands of years. But it fails miserably...
The Director attempts this by keeping the audience from getting involved with the characters, in order to not come up with pat judgments or resolutions. He wants the viewer to thinks for themselves. Does this work? Not very well in my opinion. Everything was too pat...and who cares...!
The key weakness is the boyish Father Amaro. It sure doesn't take him very long to bed the 16 year old virgin. And he does this by using a handicapped, tormented young woman, as his ghost(and were to believe that he is serious about the importance of his priesthood...? ) His one moment of remorse (False Remorse?), when his "16 year old conquest" dies is quickly overcome as he delivers her eulogy. Father Amaro was corrupt from the beginning and everything else is false. Total contradictions abound in the story, and only work against the director's intentions.
A great opportunity was lost in this film. Instead of profound and thought provoking it end up annoying and false.
An outstanding film that was also banned by American Catholics was, "Priest" a much better look at church hypocrisy. Great performances, involving and thought provoking.
For other "Divine Inspiration" I also recommend another "Banned" film; "The Last Temptation of Christ".
(To this day still banned at Blockbuster Video... Surprise, Surprise...One Must Protect the Stupid...)
Dont waste your time on Father Amaro!
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| Anti-Hypocrisy, Not Anti-Catholic
by EPetersen
May 13, 2003 - 4:17 PM PDT
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5 out of 6 members found this review helpful
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This stunning film from director Carlos Carrera created quite a controversy in its native Mexico. In an eerie parallel to the plot, the Catholic Church flexed its political muscle and got the Mexican government to ban the movie, which it considered scandalous.
Gael Garcia Bernal is Father Amaro, the handsome young priest assigned to a rural dioscese filled with corruption and duplicity. One priest (Father Benito) launders money for the local drug lord in exchange for fees which support Church projects like a free clinic for the poor. Another priest (Father Natalio) serves the poor and helps the leftist Zapatistas in their battle against the drug lords who have been funding the Church, hence he is targeted for excommunication. The bishop in charge of the dioscese uses his political muscle to supress a scandalous news story about the Church's connection to the drug lords.
The young Father Amaro learns a sobering lesson about lesser and greater evils and is torn between his devotion to the Church and his own strong sense of morality. But his world turns upside down when Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon), a 16-year-old Sunday school teacher, becomes attracted to him and they have an affair. Father Benito, who has been having a long standing affair with the housekeeper, senses that Amaro's affair will lead to disaster. Which it does.
Ironically, those who branded this movie anti-Catholic took more offense with the darkly humorous character of Dionisia - an eccentric old woman who both loves and loathes the Church - than with the portrayal of the priests. Dionisia steals from the collection basket, saves her communion wafers to feed to her cat, and proclaims her undying devotion to the Church while at the same time enjoying the sight of priests behaving badly.
The Crime Of Father Amaro is a seething indictment of the hypocrisy and corruption that too often lurks behind masks of piety. It's also an eloquent meditation on human nature and needs and how they conflict with the rigidity of institutions like the Catholic priesthood. Well worth a watch! |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.37)
150 Votes
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