MovieChat Forums > Priest (1995) Discussion > Love it.

Love it.

posted 20 years ago by swindon
25 replies | jump to latest

Priest is one of the best movies ever made and nobody discusses about it... Such a shame I have to do it all on my own...
This film is so good I can't even name a favourite part 'cos they're all so great. I absolutely adore Jimmy McGovern for what he has done here (and after it, I think The Lakes is the best mini series ever made).
The characters, the lines they're saying, their motives, the whole plot itself... It's soo realistic and so well done. And so very touching. 'Cos it's so damn true.
Sorry about the spelling. Can't really write in English, I know.

[–] Whoah10115 20 years ago

Well I just finished watching the movie for the first time...I don't think it's one of the best films ever made...But I do think it's one of the best films of 1995(A great year). Linus Roache and Tom Wilkinson should have been nominated for Oscars. The film feels a little made for TV early on, but it gets SOOO much better. The photography was also crappy early on...But the writing and especially the performances made it a great film (The girl's Mother was great...Her screaming scene cut between Linus' best scene made me cry-as did the last scene). Anyway, it's a great film.

And don't worry about your English :)

[–] Gena-5 20 years ago

Maybe that's why there's nothing to discuss?

I find it a lot easier to discuss or describe movies I don't like.

Smaken är som baken - delad!

[–] Layara 20 years ago

That's so true, Gena-5!

I "stumbled" over it on TV about ten months ago and only watched it because there was nothing else worth watching that evening. Turned out to be one of those rare occasions when you watch a movie you have never heard of before and suddenly find yourself totally blown away! I wish more people would know and appreciate this little gem...

[–] sanna_o75 20 years ago

Love this movie too. And I love Robert Carlyle. I'm sooo impressed by him and he made himself "higher" in my eyes after whatching(?) this. The sex scene....wow! Yeah, I love it!

[–] FloraDanica 20 years ago

I loved it too, back in early 1995 where I went to see it 3 times, dragging friends and family with me to the cinema and forcing them to enjoy it too...(which they did!) Such superb acting, and a very touching and realistic story.
I' ve been looking forward to seeing it again ever since, but no sign of it anywhere. :-(
I wonder why? Has anyone seen it on dvd?

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[–] txfilmfan 19 years ago

I first saw it in London while I was temporarily working there in 1995. I don't know if it got much exposure in the US. When I got back home, I bought a copy on LaserDisc - the precursor to today's DVDs. The LD player still works, and I pull this movie out every once in a while, since it doesn't show up on cable/satellite very often (and would never show on US broadcast TV)

[–] doggri_cat 19 years ago

I found 'Priest' on an old video, must have been taped off TV years ago. I was really moved by the film and I'm so glad I watched it. It is one of the few films that makes me cry...

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] sourpuss 19 years ago

I disagree that Priest is a very good movie. It is a well made movie that had the potential to be great but instead fails because it seems to blame the teachings of the Church as the reason for the problems of its characters. The Church requires its priest to be celibate. But it does not require anyone to become a priest. Therefore, the main character chose to be a priest and to take the vow of celibacy. While I sympathize with him, I cannot agree with what he is doing.

The whole premise with the young girl being raped by her father is also messed up. Again, the film tries to show that the Church's rules regarding confession is to blame for the priest not being able to tell authorities. If the filmmakers had done adequate research, they would now that in order for confession to be a sacrament, the confessor needs to make an act of contrition. The father does not do this…and in fact uses the confessional booth only to justify his actions. The priest had every right to tell authorities since the man was not using the sacrament.

I'm all about constructive criticism of the Church. But the filmmakers did not do their homework and are criticizing the church based on their own misconceptions. And they seem to rely on the fact that their viewers would have the same misconceptions. They even fooled me until I learned more about what the Church teaches.

[–] skyslang-1 18 years ago

Hey, Sourpus, I get what you're saying to an extent. When I saw this back in 1995 with a friend he had the same reaction. If Father Greg didn't agree with the celibacy stricture on priests, he should have left the church. He took a vow of celibacy and that's that; the Church has it's rules and if you've chosen to become a priest you should abide by them.
But I think you are both missing the point. I don't see this as a critique of the church and it's rules, but more of a personal, emotional story. If you're not gay, you don't know how difficult it is to come out, especially when you're Catholic. This is just the story of someone dealing with a very difficult problem. Which a lot of us can identify with.

[–] Mehki_Girl 12 years ago

Here, here. If you are gay be gay, if you are hetero, be that, but don't be a hypocrite. Like you say, no one forces anyone to be a priest, or a cop, or a doctor, but if you make that conscious decision, then follow your vows or the ethics of the profession or go and be minister, they don't take a vow of celibacy. And you are also right, the father was not "confessing" he was bragging. The priest was a coward, for not saving that girl, for not keeping his vows, and refusing to give his boyfriend the sacrament.

[–] peterquince 18 years ago

I just saw this film again after 12 years. I saw it in the theater when I was 20 and found it very shocking. I couldn't really get over the shock of the subject matter to critique the film itself. Today I was stunned by the depth of the emotions felt and the superb acting of all involved. This is such a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and finding truth among society (and religion's) strict standards. Fabulous film, one of my new favorites.

[–] JeramyEdison 18 years ago

This was/is a terrific film. Not one of my all time favorites but I have it on VHS and pop it in the ol' VCR every now and again.

I went to the very packed Premiere of this movie when I was ~13 and can still remember the uproar that quite a few people caused: hollering at the screen, storming out. One man left twice only to return awhile later still screaming. It was really awful not to mention distracting. A few people had to be physically removed.

I'm glad to see that many of the film's actors/actresses have gone on to make more films and really enjoyed the reappearance of a bunch of them in The Full Monty. Tom W. was wonderful in In the Bedroom.

BTW- I've heard that the version shown in Canada differs slightly from the European release. Has anyone had a chance to see both?

[–] deisegirl1981 18 years ago

I went to the very packed Premiere of this movie when I was ~13 and can still remember the uproar that quite a few people caused: hollering at the screen, storming out. One man left twice only to return awhile later still screaming. It was really awful not to mention distracting. A few people had to be physically removed.

Wow, that sounds quite bizarre alright, especially the guy who came BACK to scream at the screen some more . Saw a film with Linus in it recently and it brought back memories of this excellent film which I haven't seen in years. Must try and track down the DVD.

[–] TimoKatz 18 years ago

SUCH AN AMAZING MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Literally one of the best ever finest films ever to be screened. omg I laughed so hard, as in the scene when the policeman pulls the priest over, and I cried so much too, as in the ending moments which i wonT say anything about. SEE THIS MOVIE because it will make you THINK as well as LAUGH AND FEEL!!!! I ran a whole gauntlet of emotions throughout because it was so true and so touching and so realistic. It is worth watching several times to truly get and understand what it is saying to you. 5 stars.