Review of Calvary (2014) by David W — 03 May 2014

Just saw 'Calvary' at The Picture house in Stratford. I thought it was intense,.

Thought provoking, honest, philosophical and dark. It is, I think intentionally, a morality play in which the central character, the priest, is a stoic everyman dealing with and acknowledging his own flaws while contending with the representations of human failings in the other characters these failing include despair, vengence, cynicism, lust and distrust. There is a point in the film where the cynical atheist doctor admits that he is a cliche and that the priest is a more interesting character. While the approach of the film may be formulaic the form facilitates a certain philosophical density and is effective in achieving its intention which is, I think, to explore with us the human condition. I enjoyed it.