Movie Review

Directed by Alfredo Ripstein, starring: Gael Garcia Bernal (Amaro), Ana Claudia Talancon (Amelia), Sancha Gracia (Benito), Destination Films, Spanish with English subtitles, 117 minutes, 2002.

The world of Padre Amaro is very challenging. He is newly ordained, something of a favourite of the local bishop and headed for a career as an academic. We meet him on a bus headed for his first curacy in Los Reyes, Mexico. The bus is stopped and people are robbed including his seatmate who is an old man using his life savings to start a store with his grandson. Amaro gives him what little money was not stolen from himself. They part but will meet later in the story.

The Rector, Father Benito is a curmudgeonly old Spaniard. He has been having an illicit affair with Sanjuanaro for a number of years and in fact saved her from a destitute life after her husband died. Her daughter, Amelia is in love with Ruban a young man who started work at the local paper. Benito's affair with Sanjuanaro is hardly his most ambiguous moral question. He is laundering money for the local drug lord who happens to be providing most of the money for the building of a local hospital. When Benito has a heart attack in a confrontation with Amaro it is Don Chato, the drug lord who provides a plane to fly him to Mexico City.

There is a wonderful scene at the first theology discussion group attended by Amaro. The clergy include a priest, Fr. Natalio, from a small parish in the hills who is working with the community to resist the encroachment of drug lords. He is accused by Benito of supporting guerillas to overthrow the establishment and of propounding liberation theology. It ends with Benito storming out; not your usual clericus!

Things begin to go bad when Ruban writes a news story about Benito's complicity in laundering money for the drug lords. Amelia is outraged and breaks up the relationship because she's a very devout catholic girl (teaches catechism) and is developing the hots for Amaro. Fr. Amaro is the bishop's advisor and hit man and seems to have a very strong sense of vocation even when the relationship with Amelia develops into a sexual one. Alas, she becomes pregnant and Amaro helps arrange an abortion. The old man on the bus turns out to be a night watchman for the clinic and tells the story that this good man (Amaro) is helping the young woman as part of his priestly work. The abortion goes bad, Amelia dies and the movie ends with his conducting her funeral. Whew! Lots of pathos.

This ethically rich but tragic story is based on a book written in 1875 by Jose Maria Ecade Quieroz. The film was rated "morally offensive" by the U.S. Catholic Bishops largely because of its negative portrayal of priests. Ironically, it is this very feature that makes the film morally complex and worthy of discussion. As well as abortion it touches on the issue of celibacy and faithfulness to vows. It explores the relationship of spirituality and sexuality (see the confession scene with Amelia) and the relationship of spirituality and social responsibility. What ought to be the relationship of politics and religion? In the face of injustice do we accommodate, resist or what? The completion of the "western style" hospital largely paid for with drug money might have meant the survival of Amelia. Is injustice a clear matter so that action in the right can be equally clear? Even if you disagree with the content of this story your emotions and spirit will be deeply touched.