Priest (1994) User Reviews

Intensely moving and moral film

[bilahn · 8/10 · 8 August 2006]

I just re-watched Priest after 12 years, and I think it is even more powerful and relevant now it was then, given the scandals in the Catholic Church and the rise of religious militancy and fundamentalism in the world.

While occasionally teetering on the brink of preachiness and soap opera, Priest is saved by tight direction and very fine acting. It effectively shows the humaness of people in the Church, as opposed to how some would have you believe.

As a person not all attached to organized religion, I obviously find much to approve of here. But the strength of Priest is that someone who loves the Catholic Church for what is really is, the teachings of Jesus, and not what cruel, irrational and ignorant human beings have made of it will find much to be enriched by here. Priest is not anti-Catholic at all, not in the true sense of the word. Rather, it is anti human folly.

Of course that segment that is fundamentalist and inflexible, who cannot imagine - horrors! - that a Priest could be gay have and will continue to express their moral outrage and call this "hate speech."

As a final note, I also happened to read Roger Ebert's inexplicible review of Priest. If I hadn't seen his name on it, I would think it was written by Michael Medved. Since Ebert is generally religion neutral and very gay positive, I simply don't understand his outrage at all - very puzzling indeed. And he gives Mel's hideous Passion of the Christ, one of the most immoral and disgusting movies ever made (again most especially if you ARE religious) a perfect 10.

Stirring, controversial, well-acted religious pot-boiler - still, a mixed blessing.

[gbrumburgh · 7/10 · 11 April 2001]

From the symbolic introductory scene of "Priest" wherein an old, weary-looking priest yanks a huge crucifix from the church altar, proceeds to carry it through the streets of his impoverished town as if he were Jesus himself, and proceed to bash through the door of his presbytery, you know you're in for something different - stimulating, controversial, thought-provoking. "Priest" is VERY MUCH that movie.

The old priest's clerical replacement comes in the form of Father Greg (Linus Roache, in a star-making role), a young, fair-haired, boyishly handsome visionary who, with typically youthful verve, strives to bring the Catholic Church directly to the people (well, to the Catholics, anyway), and receives his actions with decidedly mixed feelings. The older priest still in residence, Father Matthew (the excellent Tom Wilkinson), who has long settled into amiable apathy, inclines toward drink while maintaining a relatively clandestine relationship with his black, attractively careworn housekeeper (the underused Cathy Tyson). There is initial friction as the Old and New Worlds collide. Father Matthew dismisses Father Greg's modernistic sermons, while Father Greg frowns upon Father Matthew's casual stance on papal celibacy. Eventually, we learn Father Greg has his own difficulty with celibacy...but with other men.

As the story proceeds, we are drawn into the emotional and moral struggles of Father Greg as he wrestles not only with his own social and spiritual ethics, but those of his parish. In one particularly chilling confessional scene, a male member of the parish practically flaunts his sexual desires while "justifying" his incestuous advances toward his teenage daughter.

"Priest" is an important, ambitious project and yields emotional power in its depiction of moral adversity. But it's a mixed blessing. Some of the scenes come off overbaked and melodramatic, while the resolution of the piece should be more powerful and less compromising; instead it comes off manufactured and unrealistic, hurting its overall impact.

In fairness, "Priest" does bring out the hypocrisy in both priests, as well as the parish. Nobody comes off saintly here, just flawed and human. An interesting bi-note is that there have been no comments in the fact that the elder priest is having a sexual relationship with a BLACK housekeeper. Forty years ago, according to religious purists, the Bible interpreted ethnically mixed relationships and marriages as abominations as well. At least some headway HAS been made.

Is "Priest" anti-Catholic in its message? To an extent, yes. The Catholic's Church's unyielding, unprogressive, medieval doctrines are brought to task here, never more pointedly than in the scene where Father Greg, agonizing over whether to prevent the continued sexual abuse of the young girl and report the father to authorities, or respect the confidentiality of the confessional and remain silent, reluctantly chooses the latter.

While I deem this movie to be a stronger platform for social tolerance, `Priest' still drums home beautifully the message that organized religion is still used as a tool to govern instead of instill moral standards, particularly in other countries, and as a persecutive weapon against certain sectors of society that do not conform to those rigid standards. As a consequence, the Church has provided a comforting harbor and hazardous safety zone for certain "acceptable" bigotries.

We need more brave, topical films like "Priest" to confront such important social issues and display them front-and-center.

Thought provoking

[cleobrag72 · 8/10 · 28 August 2006]

Insightful movie. Makes you reflect a lot on the reality of those who embrace celibacy as priests. There are issues in today's world that affect priests and their commitment as ministers in the Church that this movie brings out very well. It might have been considered a very provocative movie when it came out, but it honestly reflects Church reality in some countries. It makes you realize the humanness of priests and the emotional, moral and spiritual problems they grapple with. I liked the ending the best - the only one in the Church capable of forgiving and accepting the gay priest, was the young girl who had been abused by her father and who had confided in the priest. Very touching and realistic.

Definitely one of the most controversial films in cinema history

[RachelLone · 27 February 2004]

Father Greg Pilkinton (Linus Roache) is a young, dedicated, idealistic and yet conservative (comparing to his colleague, Father Matthew Thomas, played by Tom Wilkinson) priest who has recently arrived in his new parish. He works hard with total faith and devotion. Soon after moving in to Father Matthew's house, he discovers that Father Matthew has been having a relationship with his maid. Later on, a school girl, Lisa (Christine Tremarco) confesses to him that her father has been sexually abusing her, Father Greg faces his inner struggle on whether to reveal the truth to the authority, or remain silent in order not to break his vow.

Confused and frustrated, Father Greg goes to a pub and meets Graham (Robert Carlyle) and later they have sex. They are to stay in an on-and-off relationship. Now Father Greg must confront his human desire and his sexuality. Eventually, he also has to deal with his being arrested while making love in a parked car and the devastating consequences.

This film challenges the entire system. Must a priest (or a nun) remain celibate? Should we leave out non-heterosexuals for being Catholics or whatever? Must a priest remain silent when hearing a serious problem or even an about-to-be-committed crime (which happens all the time in Northern Ireland) and do nothing? Can all priests honestly give themselves away completely to God and refrain from letting their human emotion, human desire flow? Don't some priests become child molesters because they've been trying to repress their human desire for too long (this seems outside the subject. On the other hand, not all priests commit such a crime)? Should we refuse to show compassion towards certain people simply because they are different from us and that their life styles are 'not accepted' by society or the usual moral standard? Still, who is the hypocrite here? Father Matthew's relationship with his housekeeper has never been revealed. If otherwise, he would be rejected, too. He leads a double life. Being a 'liberal' priest and breaking his vow of celibacy at the same time. But WHO are the hypocrites? Aren't we all?

'Priest' is not about a story of one priest. It's about any one priest. And the movie is compelling and well-made. One thing for sure, the Roman Catholic Church would not be pleased with this film.

Strong, complex, well-acted religious drama

[dromasca · 9/10 · 8 February 2004]

You need to have watched a few BBC dramas, and like the style in order to really appreciate this film. It may seem slow in the eyes of viewers used with the American cinema approach, but I tremor to the thought of how Hollywood could have spoiled this film, and I am happy that the script fell in Brits hands first. 'Priest' is a complex film, dealing with hard issues of incest and homo-sexuality, but first with the conflict between the priest mission as a moral leader and the Procustian laws of the Catholic church he needs to obeye by. The ideological content may be controversial for many, it was partly for me as well, but I cannot help admiring the well kept balance, the dramatic tension, and the masterful way the excellent team of actors is filling the roles. I wonder how comes that Linus Roache is not a bigger star after having made this film about one decade ago. He certainly deserves to be in the same line as some of his generation colleagues who have succeeded that well in American and world cinema.

Yes, the film is controversial, you may not agree with some of the ideas and it looks sometimes as a cinema manifest, but it is still a good and human film. I less liked the final, which is the only place in the script where art logic seems to surrender to the religious concepts. 9/10 on my personal scale.

Two great performances make this a worthy experience for all

[grahamclarke · 7/10 · 17 December 2006]

For Catholics "Priest" must certainly be a wrenching experience. Though it must be stated that the picture painted is hardly a balanced one. The clergy as a whole are portrayed as a vicious bunch. Still the discussion that this film will provoke is certainly an important one.

Not being Catholic myself, the religious aspects were interesting though did not resonate strongly on an emotional level. Still, there's much worthy in this film for those far removed from organised religion or the Catholic Church. The story of an individual torn apart by conflicting beliefs and forces is indeed fascinating and "Priest" deals with this in a powerful and convincing fashion.

The success of the movie lies largely in the truly stunning performance of Linus Roache. Slightly resembling Montgomery Clift in "I Confess", Roache possesses a rare ability to totally inhabit his character and his acting is simply faultless. Tom Wilkinson too is in top form. For their performances alone, "Priest" is most definitely a "must see".

Journey of Growth and the Heart of Forgiveness

[gpadillo · 9/10 · 23 August 2005]

11 years after its release, I finally got around to watching one of 1994's most controversial films. I don't know what took me so long.

This is the story of Father Greg Pilkington, an idealistic young priest appalled by the liberal-thinking, older priest he shares a congregation with. Clashes and airs of superiority from Father Greg set up, almost calculatedly, his crushing and inevitable fall from grace. Try as he might, Father Greg, pious and as intolerant as ever, cannot suppress his sexuality and takes to the gay bar scene. A casual pick up turns into an affair which in turn becomes a personal and professional disaster as an equally intolerant society pushes him towards wrongful arrest and a verdict of "guilty." Father Greg becomes the object of derision and hatred by the bigoted, close minded community, itself a reflection of all the young priest exhibited in but a show of intolerance and sanctimoniousness.

The real heart of this picture occurs in the confessional when a desperate young girl tells of ongoing sexual abuse at the hands of her father. Eventually, this information becomes a test of faith for Father Greg as he questions his spirituality, the laws of the church and God himself.

During all of this the older priest, Father Matthew, preaches of "the trappings of power" that the Church has saddled itself with - and how the trappings have gotten in the way of the message of God, of love, of tolerance, of patience and compassion. As might be expected, the Church's higher ups have little patience for this sort of talk - and the congregation itself shuns Father Greg turning mass into an explosive show of blind eyed fanaticism.

As Father Greg, Linus Roche gives a searing, searching performance as the young tormented priest. His fall and redemption, the center of the story, comes across with an earnestness that steers clear of sensationalism, despite the loaded message of the movie. Tom Wilkinson, as ever, gives a performance that is as natural and believable - and likable - as anything he's done before or since. (Side note: having waited so long to watch this it's interesting to see these two actors with important roles in this year's new and glorious Batman Begins.) A truly remarkable and emotional film.

"God wants me to be a priest."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 13 August 2018]

Having attended a Catholic parochial school and then a Catholic high school, one is exposed to many of the teachings of the Church and the duties required of priests in their role of representing Christ on Earth. There's the priestly vow of celibacy and the sanctity of the confessional. If one believes in the doctrines of the Church, the conflicts presented in this movie are bound to be troublesome for the viewer of faith. You have a priest faced with the dilemma of keeping quiet about a parishoner's sexual abuse of his own daughter which came to light in confession. And you have that same priest conducting a homosexual affair as a result of a gay bar hook up. On a side note, you have the young priest's parish pastor conducting a live-in relationship with his housekeeper, thereby sidestepping the role of celibacy in his position as well.

It's easy enough to believe that the film makers had an agenda here, and I don't know if that was the case or not. For me it's pretty simple, if a priest who made of vow a celibacy engages in sex with either a woman or a homosexual, then they shouldn't be a priest. Father Matthew's (Tom Wilkinson) justifications to Father Greg (Linus Roache) and himself don't fly because they made a decision in their lives to uphold the vows of the priesthood. On the question of keeping a vow of silence regarding the confessional, I would prescribe to the idea that doing what's right is more important than following a hard and fast rule if that rule were to cause serious physical or emotional harm to an individual. Personally, my own relationship with the Church was strained irrevocably when pedophile priests weren't dealt with the way they should have been, that is, defrocked and expelled to prevent abuse to further individuals.

Within the context of the film, I thought the screenwriter and actors did a fairly commendable job in their difficult roles. The subject matter wasn't presented in a sensational way and there appeared to be some thought put into the arguments on both sides with the characters of Father Matthew and Father Greg. For another thoughtful treatment of the priestly requirement on the sanctity of the confessional, one might look up Alfred Hitchcock's 1953 film "I Confess". It deals with a priest who faces a murder charge unless he divulges the identity of a man who confessed to the killing. It's a story in which the fabled director shifts the viewer's attention in different directions in somewhat of a departure from his usual movie fare.

Powerful and Intense

[irishcoffee630 · 10/10 · 2 August 2003]

The ending of this film at the communion rail, is the MOST powerful scene I have ever seen in any movie for a long long time. It will have you sobbing like a baby, guaranteed. Film is an emotion charged look at the Catholic Church's problems and cover-ups concerning a closeted guilt ridden gay priest's sexual desires, and a little girl being molested by her disgusting father who relates in the confessional not for penance, but to tell the priest it is his right and not to interfere. Priest has guilt over his sexuality and about the confession, but he can not tell about the girl because of church rules. Meanwhile it's found out about his being gay with parish congregation and church hierarchy is in an uproar. Linus Roache plays gay priest. His performance is outstanding. Very thought provoking movie. makes you think for weeks afterward about guilt and redemption. I gave it 10/10. This movie blew me away with it's intense plotting, powerful themes and the courage to film it with such insight. Recommend this film very highly but have a box of tissue for final 5 minutes. I warned you.

Absorbing Drama

[harry-76 · 7/10 · 11 February 2000]

Problems stemming from physical v.s. spiritual matters is considered in "Priest." A top notch British cast portray men of the cloth and their parishioners in a drama which provokes thought on a number of issues. The script is well written, the production values strong, and the over all effect engaging. A most absorbing and challenging presentation.

A Confederacy of Unflattering Stereotypes.

[Suradit · 5/10 · 13 November 2012]

I didn't find the portrayal of the main character to be especially realistic. If someone has grown up Catholic and gay, and particularly if he chooses to enter the priesthood, he's going to have to have developed a sense of self-preservation along the way. Father Greg's irrational behavior belies that.

Of course, everyone can be driven to do idiotic things because of suppressed sexual urges, but in this case Father Greg seems to be more a victim of stupidity than anything else. He arrives in a new parish located in a lower socio-economic area, supposedly in response to his own request, lectures another priest because of his inappropriate behavior and then bicycles off to a gay club.

The club couldn't have been very far from his new posting. Hard to believe he would assume that by removing his dog collar he'd be cloaked in anonymity or that he would never again encounter the man with whom he has sex, possibly in the streets or in his church. While this might be explained as impulsive behavior in one instance, making out with the same man in a car in a wide-open public setting seems to beggar belief. And his love interest, Graham, seems remarkably unaware of the potential for problems that a priest might face if discovered to be having a gay affair.

Given the church's history of burying such problems rather than dealing with them, the reactions of the bishop may or may not have been realistic, although an amazing number of people seem to be borderline drama queens in this film, not least Father Greg who turns the focus of everyone's problems onto himself even before he manages to hit the headlines.

Probably the most convincing acting came from the angry parishioners and other priests whose cranky approach to Christianity was underscored by their behavior.

I would say that the screenplay didn't play favorites. The lower economic classes came off as self-indulgent bigots. The church and its hierarchy were, deservedly, shown as self-serving hypocrites. And the gays in the movie seemed to exist in a state of mentally challenged numbness to the world around them. The author apparently had numerous axes to grind.

The ending, in addition to portraying Father Greg as emotionally feeble-minded, was simply embarrassing.

It may have been controversial when it was first released, but probably for the wrong reasons.

Moving and powerful

[preppy-3 · 10/10 · 13 June 2006]

A young handsome Catholic priest Father Greg (Linus Roache) starts at a new parish in London. He butts heads with the older and more lenient Father Matthew (Tom Wilkinson) but they become friends. But Greg is gay and sneaks out to gay bars to meet men. He meets up with Graham (Robert Carlyle) and they fall in love--but Greg feels guilty about it. Also a young girl tells him in confession that her father is sexually using her--but he can't tell anybody. Slowly these two issues start to drive him crazy...

Excellent drama. This was attacked by the Catholic church (who didn't see it) as being anti-Catholic. Director Antonia Bird said she wasn't trying to blast the Catholic church--and she doesn't! She's pointing out some issues that the Catholic church has and should be dealt with. The church is not demonized--they show the good and the bad. The film is well-written--I never thought theological discussions could be interesting but they are! Also they don't pull back--there is some extreme anti-gay language but it is needed for the story. The sex scenes between Carlyle and Roache are pretty tame though--especially in the American version where they're edited (stupid censors!).

The acting is superb. Carlyle is just excellent: Wilkinson was also good but Roache is just incredible. You see the pain in his face and feel his struggle trying to reconcile his faith with his orientation. The most powerful sequence comes when he breaks down in front of a cross begging God to help him.

I don't want to make it sound like this is all gloom and doom. There are some very funny moments mixed in too. The ending is sad but realistic (unfortunately). A powerful and moving film. A must-see. 10 all the way.

a simpler story would help the point

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 26 November 2014]

Father Greg Pilkington (Linus Roache) is new to a Liverpool inner-city parish. He is stiff and proper. Father Matthew Thomas (Tom Wilkinson) is a flamboyant leftist man of the people. Pilkington is uncertain of the senior Father and disapproves of the housekeeper Maria Kerrigan (Cathy Tyson) as well as their relationship. Greg hears Lisa Unsworth's confession about her incestuous father which causes him a moral conflict. He is also struggling with his own homosexual feelings towards Graham (Robert Carlyle).

This movie has a lot of things going on and it's trying to make a point about sex and the church. I like all the actors in this and they do an admirable job. The point could have been made better with a slim down script. Tom Wilkinson could have played a simple elder statesman. His character's sexual going-ons probably distracted the main story a bit. The incest story is quite compelling and brings out some real effecting scenes.

Another lame attempt to blame the Catholic Church

[jlccs · 1/10 · 28 August 2006]

Let me begin by saying that a movie that would explore the role of homosexuality in the Catholic Church could be very interesting. So could a movie that explores the CHOICE of celibacy. So could a movie that looks at the monsters who use their collar to molest children. THis movie just points out that the writers think that celibacy is bad and that the Church is out of date and should let all those poor priests just have partners and everything would be great. I am really tired of this same old lame formula. This is a silly movie for many reasons: 1. If the father in the film had really made a confession about molesting his daughter, the priest MUST tell! The confessional does not allow for people to be hurt or for those who are hurting to just keep it up. Please refer to all the abuse that has been currently reported and what should have been done. 2. Priests become priests by choice and choose to accept the condition that they be celibate. They can leave if they can't do this. It is difficult, but what in life is not? Let's try to get beyond the idea that all men must engage in sexual intercourse or they will go crazy or become child molesters. Child molesters are sick and like to have sex with little kids. They do not become this way due to a lack of sex, or because they wear a Roman Collar.

Last, but not least, could someone make a movie about the Church without always portraying the leaders of the Church as heartless old goats who just love to make everyone unhappy? An objective and critical film could be interesting, just not trash like this that is full of recycled angst from failed Catholics who wish that the Church would just let them do what they want. It's OK, you just are not Catholic anymore if you can't follow the rules. You can change or leave, just don't expect the whole religion to change for you!

Incredibly moving

[uluru-1 · 7 August 2003]

This movie was incredibly moving, especially the last 10 minutes. It accurately portrays the struggle one would go through, being Catholic, gay, and a priest, all at once. Yikes. The ending is very VERY powerful, and sends a strong message that we learn and grow through our suffering, and surviving our hardships enables us to help others. If you're up for an emotionally powerful movie, see this movie!! You'll love the ending!

Very intelligent and beautiful piece of film making

[Bogey Man · 9/10 · 20 May 2002]

Priest, by Antonia Bird, is very beautiful and also provocative film about faith, church, forgiveness and tolerance, which all have as many shapes as there are human beings. The film tells the story of a priest who arrives to new town and soon he notices some things he don't consider too acceptable, and learns also that incredible and selfish evil lives inside every human being, including himself.

The film is a powerful study about religion and many ways to interpret and obey its orders. How can a priest do his "good" job as he is rotten and evil inside and there is always the chance of Sin lurking somewhere? The main point is that no human is purely good and without any flaws and everyone sins, priests too. The purification can be reach only by forgiving and being tolerant and loving towards others, and thus the peace of mind and happiness may be reached: trying to be as good as human being can. Forgiveness and love are the most important things and the film ends in extremely beautiful scene at the church, as at least one little person forgives the priest for his "crimes" and sees into the heart and soul of the priest. We cannot judge someone for something because there are no sinless people in the world. The narrow-mindedness is one problem the film deals with, and it is sad to see that these things take place in real life, too. The film is very deep and beautiful and also funny and it unfolds more and more with each viewing time. This should be seen by persons who "cannot forgive" someone for something he/she has done. What is the benefit people think they get by not forgiving someone and hating someone? As I mentioned, the power of love, forgiveness, and tolerance are the main themes of the film so there are no people in the world, who this film cannot be recommended. This is like Abel Ferrara's and his screenwriter's work, but not as fierce and relentless as their work. Priest is a little more restrained and "easier for everyone to watch" version of the themes of Ferrara and St. John.

Remarkable, beautiful, touching and forces the viewer to think. 9/10 masterpiece.

Aa cult movie on churches and 90's LGBT

[feniziarra · 7/10 · 30 August 2021]

I think this is a cult movie about hypocrisy of 90's churches and christianity. It's about a priest called Fr Greg. This young priest has a secret second life where he goes to gay pubs and sleeps with men. Even though this two lives of him are quite isolated from one other and doesn't effect his missions as a priest, he feels like a sinner deep inside. He also has questions about christianity and his faith gets even more damaged when he faces a mind-boggling case such as molestation and incestious. Will he stick to the church's rules and safety of the confesser or will he do what seems morally right?

The movie had many messages about christianity too.

Here are some quotes from the movie:

"And we've got a scapegoat today. It's that mythical beast called society. Drug addiction; alcoholism... etc They're not our sins anymore. They are not fault of of the individual anymore. They're society's fault"

"The creation of mankind only started on the sixth day. It hasn't stopped yet. We're taller than we were a thousand years ago. We live longer. We're better educated. More informed. So, creation is an ongoing process. And if you interfere with it, aren't you spitting in the face of God?

If you kill and maim, throw people out of their homes, turn your back on the elderly, if you shut down schools and hospitals, force people out on the dole--ln fact, if you do anything... to prevent one single human being reaching their full potential, aren't you interfering in creation?"

"He wasn't human enough, the Son of God. He had certainty. Heaven, everlasting life, He knew it all with absolute certainty. Well, give me that, and, fine, no problem, you can crucify me as well. All the agonies of the world, no bloody problem whatsoever... because I'd be certain that God exists. But I'm not certain. All I've got is faith. Then something evil comes along, grinning, sickening evil, and faith just runs away in terror."

"I'm in the depths of despair. I look around for an example, and all there is is you. But you perform miracles. You change water into wine. You raise the dead. You, you cured the sick. What kind of example is that? How could you possibly know despair?"

Should be embraced by the church.

[jordan2240 · 9/10 · 31 July 2006]

I just caught this movie on cable, and found it to be one of the most touching I've seen. I'm Roman Catholic, and unless you are the type to blindly follow the tenants of your faith without question, you will likely find the questions raised by this film familiar. It really makes no difference whether the Priest is gay or straight, as human beings, they are undoubtedly often caught between the desire to respond to normal human needs and the requirements of the church. And while the Catholic church provides the setting, much of what the older priest says in his sermon regarding what God finds worthy of His attention can be applied to most any religion, as can the discussion near the end between the angry parishioners and the younger priest upon his return from exile. There are some very emotional moments in the film, not the least of which is the ending. As Catholics, we tend to forget that priests are human beings. This movie shows us that they are. I will warn you that, if you tend to cringe at the portrayal of gay attraction (as I do), you WILL find yourself doing so at various points in this film ("Brokeback Mountain" has nothing on "Priest"), but nothing is ever presented in poor taste or gratuitously, in my opinion. A film definitely worth viewing.

On a side note, I counted at least 5 performers in "Priest" that also appear in "The Full Monty." Guess they needed to do something a bit lighter after this one.

Priest

[jboothmillard · 7/10 · 10 June 2011]

I remember watching this film in Secondary School for R.E. (Religious Education), because it portrayed some important issues, so when I had the opportunity to see it again I had to, from director Antonia Bird (Ravenous). Basically in Liverpool, Father Greg Pilkington (Linus Roache, son of William aka Ken Barlow from Coronation Street) has recently come to St. Mary's parish, and he is shocked to see Father Matthew Thomas (Tom Wilkinson) having a sexual relationship with housekeeper Maria Kerrigan (Cathy Tyson). Despite knowing this disregard for the rule of celibacy, he continues working at the church like a professional priest, despite hiding a secret himself, that he is homosexual, which in these days can get you arrested. Greg has allowed people to open up in the confessional, and he is shocked to hear young student Lisa Unsworth (Christine Tremarco) confess that her father (Robert Pugh) is abusing her, and sticking to the rules of sanctity he knows it would be a sin to tell anyone. While at the same time having a nice relationship with Graham (Robert Carlyle), Greg tries to warn Lisa's mother (Lesley Sharp) to keep an eye on her daughter, but she foolishly believes the husband protects them, and he confronts the priest to mind his own business. A big blow comes when he both faces Mrs. Unsworth confronting him about the fact he knew about the incestuous molestation and she caught her husband, and the priest is arrested for engaging in sexual activity with another man in a parked car, to which he pleads guilty and is let go. The next day everyone knows about his homosexuality, most feel disgusted that he is what he is, and more so that he is committing sin and going against his beliefs. Father Matthew demands he leave the chapel, but he sees his side of the story and forgives him and says he should go back to work, for a while he resists, and in the end, after returning Greg gets a final hug from Lisa, and they sob together in front the communion queue. Also starring James Ellis as Father Ellerton. Roache gives a marvellous performance as the religious man struggling with the pressures of his beliefs, Wilkinson gets his moments as his fellow priest friend, and Carlyle is also effective as the gay lover, this is a thought provoking story filled with compassion, harrowing material and a real sense of how beliefs overpower people, a great British drama. It was nominated the BAFTA for the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film. Very good!

An incredibly well-acted, soulful drama

[doeadear · 9/10 · 10 June 1999]

I found this film to be one of the most incredibly well-acted films I have viewed in a long time. Linus Roache is a revelation as Father Greg Pilkington, who finds his sexual orientation conflicting with his religious faith. The film raises many issues, making the question of celibacy only one of many points. There is also hypocrisy, homophobia, shame, incest...it runs the gamut of emotions. Tom Wilkinson is also brilliant as the parish rector who is having an affair with his housemaid (Cathy Tyson). The deep-seeded condemnation of Father Greg, who truly wants to practice his religious faith but is shamed into a failed suicide attempt, is maddening. The first stone is cast repeatedly, and there are no easy conclusions. The film ends with a beautiful example of forgiveness and empathy. This is an excellent film.

A film that doesn't mind putting you in discomfort for ninety-six minutes without the need of sex, violence, or blood

[StevePulaski · 7/10 · 13 January 2016]

Antonia Bird's Priest revolves around Father Greg Pilkington (Linus Roache), who is just assigned to St. Mary's Church in Liverpool. Upon being hired, he is disgusted to discover that Father Matthew Thomas (Tom Wilkinson), a very liberal member of the archdiocese, is having sexual relations with his housekeeper, despite his vow of celibacy. Not long after joining the church, he also meets Lisa (Christine Tremarco), a young girl who confides in Father Greg about her father's persistent abuse that goes from being verbal to sexual on a regular basis.

Father Greg sees this rampant sin all over his church, disgracing his new home like graffiti on the cold concrete of an urban underpass. This especially disturbs him because, despite having fairly conservative values and beliefs when it comes to the teachings and the practices of leaders in the church, Father Greg is a closet homosexual. He begins having recurring sexual encounters with Graham (Robert Carlyle) upon meeting him at a club one night. His ultimate test as a newly appointed member of a church comes in numerous forms - his battle with his closet orientation, his vow of silence and secrecy when he knows several dangerous and unethical things are taking place, and his contentment with robbing himself of his true identity for the sake of his job.

Priest examines the multiple hypocrisies of the church in a manner that isn't so much incriminating as it is an act of introspective examination. Bird and screenwriter Jimmy McGovern illustrate the church's disapproval on same-sex marriage and relations, adamantly bashing everything that has to do with either, yet actively turns a blind eye to the sins committed within the four walls of the church. Why is it so difficult and daunting to take a metaphorical magnifying glass to examine the intricate problems of those that are ostensibly chosen to lead a nation of lost souls to the path of righteousness?

Without sermonizing themes and morals at us, Bird and McGovern leave the area pleasantly gray, largely so the audience came come to the consensus of justifying the church's, and for that matter, the public's, willingness to really turn the tables on the alleged holiness of those leading us in Sunday mass. My assumption comes from the idea of having faith in those who are guiding you. The public would love to believe the person leading them in their service are the most trustworthy person around, but it's so easy to condemn and go along with a pastor, father, or preacher's ideology without turning the tables on him or examining him and his actions. What results is dangerous groupthink, and why societal atrocities like rape, incestuous sex, and inequality can become justified and accepted, or even worse, unnoticed.

The bulk of Priest, however, handles Greg's crisis of faith and lack of hope in the institution he has trusted since he was a kid. Upon his first encounter with Graham at a nightclub, when he sees things are taking a turn for the romantic, we can tell that everything he has been told or has taught himself, is coming into question. Couple that with the plethora of sins he sees his church so casually committing and he is sick with uncertainty and frustration over everything he is handling and dealing with at once.

Linus Roache gives a solid performance as Greg, though he can be shaky in more dramatic circumstances. Consider the scene where Father Greg is kneeling before Christ on the cross, cursing his name for allowing what is happening to poor Lisa. During this confrontation between Greg and Christ, Bird juxtaposes a scene of Lisa's father violently assaulting her before being interrupted by the mother, who witnesses his actions. It's a frightening scene, and although Roache doesn't handle the crying and the more dramatic elements with immense conviction, it's adequate enough, especially when edited together ostensibly to create an "act of God" circumstance in response to Father Greg's persistent pleading.

Priest is more an impressionistic soap-opera regarding the church than it is a drama. Its production values are notably low, its color scheme never reaches past a bleak pastel, and its acting is unanimously adequate. But Bird and McGovern wisely overcome all of the above in order to make their audience think and contemplate about their own judgments and, in turn, put them in an uncomfortable position for ninety-six minutes. As easy as it is to dismiss the cheap and stiff aesthetic of Priest, it's as hard to admit that it might have a point or at least be onto something, and that's the first step in admitting there is a serious problem embedded somewhere.

Starring: Linus Roache, Tom Wilkinson, Robert Carlyle, and Christine Tremarco. Directed by: Antonia Bird.

Soap Box For Progressive Politics

[billseper · 2/10 · 14 November 2011]

This film was widely panned by critics everywhere when it came out, and it doesn't take much to see why. The story is a completely one-sided railing against doctrines of the Catholic Church in order to justify homosexual activities. Don't waste your time with it. "I want to, so I'm gonna" is the entire statement of the movie. Don't expect any real arguments or philosophy here. The acting is passable at best, but given that the screenplay/story is terrible, they didn't have much to work with. What's frustrating is that there's no serious dialog where the clergy get to spell out exactly why sins are sins here along with the harmful after-effects of them. The film seeks immoral justification without proper philosophical/mental evaluation.

Excellent Film

[endymion82 · 10/10 · 7 October 2001]

PRIEST is one of those movies that is so surrounded by controversy, few people ever remember to evaluate it purely as art, which is a shame because it's really an incredible film. As a writer, I was blown away the first time I saw this movie because the script is so excellent: every character in the film, from the lead priest to the maid, seems to have something at stake in the plot, be it religious morals, sexual happiness, love, personal fulfillment, honesty, duty or physical safety. The characters grow out of the situation in a way that's surprisingly organic in today's movie scene, where often the plot seems to be incidental to the characters, or vice versa. Regardless of your take on the issues, I think you have to admire that they are being presented, not just talked about, and the film does an excellent job of balancing both the potential enormousness of the questions it raises, and the intimate, personal nature of its story. After the script, another reason to love PRIEST is the performances: it is one of those few movies where absolutely everyone is excellent, from Roache and Wilkinson, down to bit players like the irate Housekeeper at the priest retreat and the young reporter who tries to corner Roache after his hearing. The film is shot very well, especially considering they could have gotten away with a fairly straightforward point and shoot: but no, we got so amazingly well framed shots of the North Sea, England in winter, industrial vistas... And yes, whether you agree with its stance or not, kudos to the movie for taking a plethora of tough subjects like homosexuality, religious guilt, incest and life on earth vs. life in heaven, and dealing with them in a mature and often compassionate manner (as opposed to say, the way Kevin Smith deals with them in DOGMA). All in all, an excellent film. Watch it with an open mind, and a keen artistic eye.

Ecce Homo.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 11 August 2002]

I knew there were going to be problems in the church when I got to know the two priests who showed up at a funeral mass I attended. A far cry from the vigorous Irishmen and Poles of my youth. And, man, does father Gregory have problems. Played by the blandly handsome Linus Roache, he goes through a contretemps with Father Mathew about priestly celibacy, picks up a guy in a gay bar, is burdened with the knowledge of some sinful acts going on in the community which he cannot reveal because it was given to him in confession. Worst of all, he's stuck in a poor parish in Liverpool that is all dismal rain, grime, and cobblestone streets. Inter faeces et urinas nascimur.

And he's pretty uptight when it comes to other people's transgressions, awful as they are. (In an exercise in self justification, a parishioner gives him a history lesson on incest, even pulling in Pope Alexander The Something, and the sinner is right about the cultural anthropology too. Every culture -- every last one -- has a taboo on incest. The exceptions -- the Hawaiians, Incas, Ancient Egyptians -- were limited to royal families.)

The movie is well acted and well intentioned but it comes across like a lawyer's brief in a case against the Catholic church. It's true, as Father Mathew says, that the rule of celibacy is man made. In fact, it wasn't even man made until about half-way through the church's history. Until then, priests and monks had wives and mistresses like everyone else. But, well, nobody is twisting anyone's arm and forcing them to become a priest. And why is the only humanist among church authorities, Father Mathew, have to be a self-indulgent fornicator? Who complains to his congregation during mass that "God doesn't care what men do with their d***s?" And why must the parishioners be such intolerant dolts? In one awful scene, Father Greg and some old geezer spit Biblical quotes at one another. The Bishop is withered and angry. It would have been interesting to have someone in a position of authority who had some understanding and some brains. I wonder how Teilhard de Chardin would have handled these issues? Or Andrew Greeley?

There's another terrible scene too. Father Greg, alone in his room, wails on and on before a crucifix. (After having admitted that, when he looks at a crucifix, he sees a naked man and it kind of turns him on.) Let me not leave out the good scene, though. The incest problem resolves itself without interference from Father Greg. And while giving out the communion wafers at his last mass, he finds the young girl who had been victimized standing in front of him. They stare wordlessly at one another until Father Greg breaks down and they fall into an embrace. It can't help but be moving.

Overall, the movie hands us a pretty lousy picture of human nature all around. And, by the way, the incestuous father visits Father Greg in the confessional and warns him to mind his own business because he, the Dad, intends to go on balling his nubile daughter. It's not a confession, it's a scolding and a threat. Therefore, it is not, de jure, bound by secrecy. If I banged on some lawyer's door and told him I'd just committed a murder, he'd report me to the police, as he should. The same logic applies to the abusive father, doesn't it?

Politically Correct bigots will love this Dreck

[SHADO-5 · 1/10 · 16 April 1999]

Unlike people with a PC agenda, I oppose all bigotry, even against Christians and Catholics. The PC bigots will praise "Priest" simply because it's pro-Homosexual, anti-Catholic. These same Politically Correct hypocrits will not tolerate one word against their creed. Finally, aside form the PC, Priest is just a plain bad movie. Junk for the tasteless masses.