Gael Garcia Bernal is without question the most magnetic actor in movies today. After three turns in three wildly popular Mexican imports in two years, his combination of sensitive machismo (Amores Perros), combined with cocky accessibility and wonder-inducing introspection (Y Tu Mama Tambien) have evolved into a mature and warm depth of contemplation on full display in his new film.
The Crime of Father Amaro, a huge box-office success and controversial in Mexico, tells the story of an idealistic young priest, Father Amaro, sent to begin work in a small, rural Mexican town. He's assigned to help the beleaguered Father Benito (Sancho Gracia) build a new temple. Once he arrives, he meets the deeply religious and beautiful Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon), who is young, sensual and so in love with God that she transfers her feelings to Father Amaro, who slowly reciprocates her affections before beginning a full-blooded affair.
Father Amaro quickly learns that the local parish is a hothouse for priests who use religion to further their own agendas, which include guerilla warfare, adultery and drug connections. These secrets are spilled in a newspaper article authored by Ruben (Andres Montiel), Amelia's ex-boyfriend and fallen Catholic, who questions his own commitment to religion and belief in God. The article causes a revolution of sort to occur, and as Father Amaro is torn between his human desire and desire for celibacy, he re-examines his faith and the actions of the other priests.
The Crime of Father Amaro has caused an outrage in Mexico, where some feel that its uneasy mix of church, cynicism, power abuse and unsavory personal agendas are sacrilegious and have unfairly demonized priests. It has, incidentally, become the biggest box office hit of all time there.
But in the United States today, the film also seems relevant and absorbing, if not a bit sensational in its categorical dissection of flawed religious figures; some intentionally corrupt and others operating outside of a religion that won't accommodate their human desires.
Beyond these ideas, I'm not sure there's much that's profound in the film. And it may be difficult for some to relate to the cultural divides between the conservative, religion-dominated society of this small Mexican town and American society today. But then again, the scandals in the church do connect us, and are universal and global in nature to a degree that The Crime of Father Amaro has timeliness and merit.
Director Carlos Carrera (Under a Spell, Return to Sender) is not exactly subtle in his handling of the material, and employs a direct-line, simple-minded approach to its drama, which is delivered as melodrama (often the case in films emerging from the Mexican culture). When Father Amaro's compromised ideals bring about a tragedy near the end of the film, the result is fairly predictable. That the film ends on the right note of bitter cynicism is redeeming.
Bernal is the reason to see the film. His performance is filled with subtle nuances and small character choices, to create an introspective portrait of a man who doesn't so much turn away from his faith, in breaking his celibacy, but struggles to accommodate natural love and sex into his vows. He has the most magnetic eyes that are on the screen today, the kind that seem to deepen the meaning of a scene just by a long close-up. He's an actor and a star, and he carries the sledgehammer politics and melodrama of The Crime of Father Amaro on his back. Though Carrera's decision to go for melodrama is evident, Bernal removes himself from that agenda and instead delivers a subtle sense of drama and personal revolution.
In the end, corrupt priests and crises of faith are nothing new, but this film has the "luck" of appearing during an intense political climate for the Catholic Church, and as a rather lurid record of the extremes of church power abuse, it's interesting. What's more illuminating is watching the subtle shifts Father Amaro experiences during his "fall," and seeing the process happen, from idealism to despair; the story of so many priests today, is eye-opening.
DVD