French drama with three men pursuing legal and church justice as well as media exposure in seeking the prosecution and defrocking of the Catholic priest who sexually abused the men when they were small boys.
Sharply written, this comes across as realistic and believable and whilst the damage caused to the men's lives is obvious, the film cleverly avoids obvious melodramatic traps. This is also extended to the character of the priest who is portrayed somewhat sympathetically, who confesses his sins at the outset and is sorry for his crimes - this clearly does not though invalidate the crime or the men's quest.
The three men, each very different, wants to pursue the priest in different ways but come together to challenge both the priest and the church and it is here that the villains are drawn out with Cardinals, church infrastructure and indeed Catholic Church goers more intent on saving the church and brushing everything under the rug, rather than punishing and acknowledging their great sins. It really does boil the blood which of course is the intention. A good script, gently crafted, it remains tense and annoying.
Sharply written, this comes across as realistic and believable and whilst the damage caused to the men's lives is obvious, the film cleverly avoids obvious melodramatic traps. This is also extended to the character of the priest who is portrayed somewhat sympathetically, who confesses his sins at the outset and is sorry for his crimes - this clearly does not though invalidate the crime or the men's quest.
The three men, each very different, wants to pursue the priest in different ways but come together to challenge both the priest and the church and it is here that the villains are drawn out with Cardinals, church infrastructure and indeed Catholic Church goers more intent on saving the church and brushing everything under the rug, rather than punishing and acknowledging their great sins. It really does boil the blood which of course is the intention. A good script, gently crafted, it remains tense and annoying.