Review of The Crime of Padre Amaro (2002) by Lestat D — 30 Sep 2006

GROSSLY OVERRATED!!! Stirring a lot of controversy even before being released, this was a movie a was looking forward to catch in the theater. I had to wait for the DVD release and in all that time between, controversy kept building up around the film.

Threats of excommunication to the actors, calling the movie blasphemous, etc. I had promised myself to watch it with a non-judgmental eye and be fair. When I finally saw the movie I was SOOO disappointed.

Though I'm Roman Catholic, I'm not some automaton who follows the Church blindly. I'm fully aware that the Church is a human institution so it's flawed like every other one. What's the big scandal about a young priest who started to develop sexual feelings towards a hot young girl? Sounds perfectly normal to me.

I know, he took a vow of chastity and all that. He's still flesh & blood just like all of us. And about the old priest and him accepting gifts and donations from drug dealers? So what?!?! What do you answer to someone who asks you: "Padre, what do you need?" No restrictions.

..just ask. I'm aware that most of the praise this movie got was from highly industrialized countries with a low poverty index where things are black & white. And that's the problem; most of this people live unaware of the socio-economical & political situations of the countries that stuff like this happens, so it's a big surprise for them.

I'm from Puerto Rico and try to keep up with current events and though I have a nice life and haven't experienced that level of poverty, I'm aware it's happening in other countries. I gave it 3 starts instead of 2½ because of it's cinematographic merits and sheding some light in this issue.