Gay priest film
Priest (United Kingdom, )
The Catholic community's outcry against Priest has already begun, and it will doubtlessly become more intense before it abates. One of the most disturbing elements of any organized protest of this sort is that most of those involved will not have seen the picture in question. Another equally unfortunate byproduct is that, as was the case with The Last Temptation of Christ, the movie itself may get lost somewhere in the resulting polarization. If that happens, it will be a shame, because Priest has a lot to say, and doesn't deserve to be hamstrung by those who miss the gesture or have no idea what they're talking about.
The main character is Father Greg Pilkington (Linus Roache), a by-the-book, straightlaced Roman Catholic priest who is new to a rural parish in Great Britain. Father Greg is the sort who believes his job is to give moral advice, not operate as a social activist -- a charge he levels against fellow priest Father Matthew Thomas (Tom Wilkinson).
While trying to serve his flock, however, Father Greg has his possess personal demons to
Priest
Despite its title, forget about finding this controversial drama on the Vatican's screening list. The film explores a provocative checklist of religious taboos--celibacy, incest, sexual abuse, homosexuality, the debatable secrecy of the confessional--as director Antonia Bird delivers a bold condemnation of what she views as the outdated politics and harmful nature of Catholic doctrine. The story concerns the ideologically strained relationship between two clergymen, the misleading conservative Father Greg (Linus Roache) and his older and more practical colleague, Father Matthew (Tom Wilkinson). Upon arriving at his modern Liverpool parish, Greg is shocked to learn that Matthew ignores celibacy and openly sleeps with his black housekeeper. Greg chooses to satisfy his earthly desires in a more secretive way. Sometimes, he likes to forfeit the cloth, grab a leather jacket, and pick up guys at the local gay pub. He's got other problems as well. While torturing himself with his own moral dilemma, he's hit with another, as during confession a young girl confides that her fathe
Promotions for Paul Verhoeven&#;s Benedettainspired me to revisit two films about repressed gay Catholics. Priest’s hypocritical Father Greg harms others by inaction. The brutal Bishop in Lilies destroys two lives. Both films are extremely triggering so be warned. Spoilers ahead.
Priest ()
A British priest (excellent Linus Roache) sees his faith tested. First by his feelings for a man (smoldering Robert Carlyle). Then by receiving confession from a sexually abused teen. His hesitation to break the seal of confession is hard for a non-believer to sympathize with. But the hard-boiled film neither forgives nor excoriates his ultimate course of action. Court laws on such cases still vary by country and region.
Scene One: Doubt
FATHER MATTHEW: Glad to have you join our church. Let me introduce you to my girlfriend.
FATHER GREG: Priests are supposed to be celibate! You’re making me question my values!
(Father Greg goes to a gay bar and hooks up with Robert Carlyle.)
Scene Two: Confession Booth (Trigger Warning)
TEEN GIRL: Bless me father. My dad’s molesting me.
F
Priest arrived as the Catholic Church was under intense media scrutiny, with an ongoing 'paedophile priest' scandal and the 'outing' of a number of allegedly homosexual priests by gay pressure group Outrage. Priest, though, had a tortured year history behind it, beginning as a rejected storyline for Brookside (Channel 4, ), on which lapsed-Catholic writer Jimmy McGovern served his TV apprenticeship, before expanding to a ten-part take on the Ten Commandments. In , the BBC commissioned a three-part (later four-part) series, only to axe the project after some eight drafts. It was thanks to that rejection that McGovern threw himself so ferociously into Cracker (ITV, ), and it was thanks to that series' success that the BBC suddenly rediscovered its interest in Priest, now proposed as a cinema feature.
During his research, McGovern interviewed a gay priest, whose sexual and spiritual torment was exacerbated by his extreme political and moral conservatism. His story became that of Father Greg, who arrives in inner-city Liverpool when his predecessor is unceremonio