The Father has sinned
February 21, 2003 | 12:00am
The sex scandals that rocked the Catholic Church late last year made headlines all over the world and gave unwelcome attention to priests, erring or not. The issue has caused heated debate on celibacy among priests and its link to some clergymen’s reckless sexual behavior.
The film "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" plunges right into the heart of the topic and explores the Church’s hold over the laity and the clergy, the line that divides power and piety. It tells the story of a newly ordained priest named Amaro (Gael Garcia Bernal) who is assigned to assist an aging Father Benito (Sancho Gracia) in running the parish of Los Reyes. It is here that the young priest is initiated into the dark side of power as he witnesses the actions and conflicts within the Church in the area. Another priest, Father Natalio (Damian Alcazar) is threatened with excommunication as he preaches liberation theology in a smaller and poverty-stricken district and rumors of his support for the local rebels abound. Meanwhile, Father Amaro gets involved in a sexual affair with a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon) whose religious conviction is turned on its head because of this transgression. She suffers the fate of her mother Sanjuanera (Angelica Aragon) who carries on a decades-long affair with Father Benito.
Amelia’s jealous suitor uncovers Father Benito’s friendship with a local drug lord and prints the story in the respected broadsheet where he works as a reporter. This drives the Church into a frenzy and Father Amaro is tasked to extract a retraction from the paper and get the reporter fired. He hits the paper where it hurts and threatens to stop placing ads. The young priest, who is now in the good graces of the bishop, begins to thirst for more of the power he now wields and his passionate relationship with Amelia will force him to reflect on his path. The choices he makes regarding their affair would mean either salvation or damnation for him.
The film by Carlos Carreras has earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film but faces tough competition from Zhang Yimou’s epic "Hero" in the race for the Oscar. The movie’s plot resembles that of a formulaic Mexican telenovela and its ending is expected. However, seamless characterization and steady plot development eclipse the predictability. As we reach the climax of the film, we don’t hold our breath in anticipation as to what would happen next because, somehow, we know. However, how we get to the conclusion is the strength of the film. It chronicles not only the politics within the Church and the weaknesses of its servants but the slow and eventual corruption of a young man’s soul. Father Amaro arrives in Los Reyes an empty canvas and without any mark of malice. His association with Fathers Benito and Natalio, two priests with different views on the doctrines and whose actions engender reactions from the Church they both do not deserve, presents him with two roads in which to tread. Ultimately, the path he chooses disappoints us but we understand why he chooses it.
Lead actor Gael Garcia Bernal’s performance is tempered and at times even lukewarm but his presence is palpable. He is effective as a tame and timid Amaro but becomes quite inept as a shrewd, scheming and ambitious wolf in sheep’s clothing. We could have used more fire there, more devilishness --but his sweet face gave only a hint of these when they were needed. The supporting cast delivers a strong performance, especially Talancon in whose eyes we see Amelia’s despair.
More than an indictment of the Church and the sins of priests, "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" is a story of innocence lost. It also shows that even after Adam has taken a bite of the forbidden apple, he will not be denied of another shot at heaven.
The film "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" plunges right into the heart of the topic and explores the Church’s hold over the laity and the clergy, the line that divides power and piety. It tells the story of a newly ordained priest named Amaro (Gael Garcia Bernal) who is assigned to assist an aging Father Benito (Sancho Gracia) in running the parish of Los Reyes. It is here that the young priest is initiated into the dark side of power as he witnesses the actions and conflicts within the Church in the area. Another priest, Father Natalio (Damian Alcazar) is threatened with excommunication as he preaches liberation theology in a smaller and poverty-stricken district and rumors of his support for the local rebels abound. Meanwhile, Father Amaro gets involved in a sexual affair with a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon) whose religious conviction is turned on its head because of this transgression. She suffers the fate of her mother Sanjuanera (Angelica Aragon) who carries on a decades-long affair with Father Benito.
Amelia’s jealous suitor uncovers Father Benito’s friendship with a local drug lord and prints the story in the respected broadsheet where he works as a reporter. This drives the Church into a frenzy and Father Amaro is tasked to extract a retraction from the paper and get the reporter fired. He hits the paper where it hurts and threatens to stop placing ads. The young priest, who is now in the good graces of the bishop, begins to thirst for more of the power he now wields and his passionate relationship with Amelia will force him to reflect on his path. The choices he makes regarding their affair would mean either salvation or damnation for him.
The film by Carlos Carreras has earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film but faces tough competition from Zhang Yimou’s epic "Hero" in the race for the Oscar. The movie’s plot resembles that of a formulaic Mexican telenovela and its ending is expected. However, seamless characterization and steady plot development eclipse the predictability. As we reach the climax of the film, we don’t hold our breath in anticipation as to what would happen next because, somehow, we know. However, how we get to the conclusion is the strength of the film. It chronicles not only the politics within the Church and the weaknesses of its servants but the slow and eventual corruption of a young man’s soul. Father Amaro arrives in Los Reyes an empty canvas and without any mark of malice. His association with Fathers Benito and Natalio, two priests with different views on the doctrines and whose actions engender reactions from the Church they both do not deserve, presents him with two roads in which to tread. Ultimately, the path he chooses disappoints us but we understand why he chooses it.
Lead actor Gael Garcia Bernal’s performance is tempered and at times even lukewarm but his presence is palpable. He is effective as a tame and timid Amaro but becomes quite inept as a shrewd, scheming and ambitious wolf in sheep’s clothing. We could have used more fire there, more devilishness --but his sweet face gave only a hint of these when they were needed. The supporting cast delivers a strong performance, especially Talancon in whose eyes we see Amelia’s despair.
More than an indictment of the Church and the sins of priests, "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" is a story of innocence lost. It also shows that even after Adam has taken a bite of the forbidden apple, he will not be denied of another shot at heaven.
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