bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

The Crime Of  Padre Amaro

Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Sancho Gracia, Ana Claudia Talancon, Damian Alcazar, Angelica Aragon

Director: Carlos Carrera

The film: Right-wing elements in Mexico attempted to have this damning study of the Catholic church banned from screens last summer, but the debate it sparked about artistic freedom of expression helped make it the highest-grossing Spanish-language film in the country's history.

It's not hard to see why director Carlos Carrera's highly realistic and confrontational work disturbed conservative tastes (the release was actually put back until after Pope John Paul II's visit).

Adapted for the screen from the 1875 novel by Portuguese master Jose Eca de Queiros, it is retold in modern-day rural Mexico where the twin pillars of hypocrisy and corruption threaten to tear the  fabric of church and state to threads.

Versatile young actor Gael Garcia Bernal (Amores Peros, Y Tu Mama Tambien) gives another fine performance in the title role as the recently ordained priest sent to assist in the tiny parish of Los Reyes. He brings his usual intensity and compassion to the part and is well supported by Spanish veteran Sancho Gracia as Father Benito Diaz, whose wicked world is slowly crumbling around him.

Father Diaz's physical relationship with his long-term maid Augustina, played with matronly grace by the wonderful Angelica Aragon (right, with Bernal), brings the destructive effects of celibacy on a priest of weak resolve into sharp focus.

The script also deals with abortion, workers' rights, corruption, drug trafficking and the dangers of fanaticism, and has served to fuel debate in Mexico over clerical reform and a more democratic and tolerant church hierarchy.

But sociopolitical and spiritual issues aside, at its core is the story of Father Amaro who falls in love with Augustina's beautiful 16-year-old daughter Amelia played by Ana Claudia Talancon (below with Bernal). The question of learned behaviour is one of the film's subtler messages. Without being a total spoiler, it all ends tragically for young Amelia. The extras: The Spanish audio commentary (with English subtitles) by Carrera and Bernal is interesting for its assessment of the debate the film touched off in Mexico, but it's a little annoying to have to read for almost two hours. The Making Of featurette reveals this as a project from the heart with extensive interviews from the cast and crew who were clearly  aware of the furore it would cause. Subtitles are in English, Spanish  and French.

The digitally mastered transfer is not the best you'll see, but for a character-driven film such as this it's fine. The verdict: Several subplots do cause the story to drag in places, but this a film worth sticking with, if only for the excellent performances.



The Crime Of  Padre Amaro