In 2002, in a small town in Mexico, Father Amaro (Gael Garcia Bernal), a young and promising priest, is assigned for that parochial. He is going to substitute Father Benito Diaz (Sancho Gracia), an old and corrupt priest of that community. Father Amaro is the protégé of the Bishop (Ernesto Gómez Cruz). Father Amaro meets Amelita (the gorgeous and sexy actress Ana Claudia Talancón), the very devoted catholic girlfriend of Rubén (Andrés Montiel), an atheist young journalist. Father Amaro also meets other priests of the neighbor towns in their periodical meeting in the church. In an environment of corruption and hypocrisy, Amelita and Father Amaro fall in love to each other. This relationship, full of lust and sin, leads them to a tragic and hypocrite end. Yesterday I watched this movie, which it is in my opinion, one of the best (or maybe the best) I have watched in 2003. I agree that the story is controversial and probably some (or most) of Catholics will not like it. It touches many wounds in this religion. The classic story of Eça de Queiroz, written in 1871, is greatly adapted for the present days. I have never had the chance of visiting Mexico, but in Brazil, in the Twenty-First Century, we have many country towns like the one showed in this wonderful film. The celibate was created in the Middle Ages by the Catholic Church to increase their wealth. How a normal man can keep the celibate is something that has never been clear for me. Lust, desire, is normal in a young man like the character of Father Amaro. In this movie, we have a young priest having a sinful relation with a very sensual girl. An older priest has a hypocrite relationship with an old widow (the mother of Amelita). This movie is indeed a great adaptation of a beautiful romance, with great performances and direction. My vote is ten.
Title (Brazil): "O Crime do Padre Amaro" ("The Crime of Father Amaro")
Title (Brazil): "O Crime do Padre Amaro" ("The Crime of Father Amaro")