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THE CRIME OF FATHER AMARO ~ EL CRIMEN DEL PADRE AMARO [2002, Mexico & Spain - Spanish]
Touted as one of the most controversial films which brought the Roman Catholic groups in Mexico fighting to stop the film from being screened, and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2002; I won't deny that I was slightly disappointed after watching. First things first, it's not terribly controversial, really. Politics and sexual passions threatening to corrupt a church, not the first to be made; and the only way the film could go to really impress (in my opinion at least) is to go 'dark' all the way. Loosely based on the novel O Crime do Padre Amaro (1875), it tells the story of a newly ordained priest, Amaro (Gael Garcia Bernal), who is assigned to the church in a small Mexican town, and quickly finds himself embroiled in the politics of the local clerics and a heated affair with devout Sunday school teacher, Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon). My main concern with the film is its consistency, switching between satire and melodrama. At one end you get scenes like kids spreading jam on communion wafers, and another instance where you find Amaro and Amelia engaging in the sexual rendezvous, whilst a spastic girl jerks and wails in the next room. Then you get scenes of the two characters wallowing in their heated passion like how you'd encounter in any soap opera.

The film however has its merits, thanks to the strong performances by the main characters especially Gael Garcia and Sancho Gracia. Director Carrera manages to make the story heartfelt, and does keep audience engaged throughout. There are many layers of corruption imbued here, and it can be a strength or otherwise depending on how you slice it. At least it kept me going, wanting to know the actual crime of the priest.

Rating : C+

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