Review of Deliver Us from Evil (1979) by David M — 17 Nov 2007

Disturbing? Yeah, that's one word. It's a very well done documentary chronicling decades of confirmed abuse. It does not speculate and conveys as little bias as possible. With such a tragic subject it is hard not to let some part of the film maker seep through.

This is about one case in particular, a case which the entire Catholic Church had a role in covering up. The film spends time on the religious aspect and why from their standpoint they would condone the actions of an admitted sexual offender. But often times, God is left out of the equation in the Church's dealings. Ultimately, it comes down to a sort of politics and fear of scandal.

Oliver O' Grady admittedly sexually abused young children. There is documentation of his offenses, police records, and footage of his confessions. Each time scandal was close, the priest was moved to a different parish, never more than 56 miles away where he continued to molest children.

The film is heartbreaking. The parents blame themselves, the victims blame themselves...the only person who seems immune from the gravity of these crimes is Oliver O'Grady himself. He talks about his past offenses with nostalgia. He doesn't seem to understand the suffering he has inflicted.

It is a fascinating documentary. It is the best that this topic could have been handled. The problem is how one handles this impossible topic. The film is not perfect. It could never be perfect. There is no adequate way to document the gravity of these crimes, the depth of corruption, and the destruction of the lives of victims and their families--all of them tortured.