I recently saw this at the 2008 Palm Springs International Short Fest. This was a crowd pleaser with a payoff that evoked loud laughs and spontaneous applause. I saw it coming from moment the priest started asking questions because I immediately remembered this as an old joke that I first heard about 30 years ago when I was a bartender. I've also read it in the joke sections of various magazines since. It seems was the only audience member who was familiar with it so based on that I would recommend it for others but since it was so predictable it didn't have the same effect on me. Well acted with a small cast of Irish character actor Donncha Crowley as Father Mullins, Sean Flanagan as Johnny Smith and Stephen Morris as Sean Crilly and written (for the screen) and directed by Thomas Hefferon this 4 minute short is the story of a a young man who goes to confession and is interrogated by the nosy righteous priest in the confessional. Anyone Catholic or familiar with the Catholic church will find humor in this. I would give it 6.0 for bing well done but nothing original.
3 Reviews
A simple tale, impressively told
ftyl5 August 2008
Bless me father for I have sinned...
The Confession combines a simple story with exceptional technical presentation to create a short that is truly more than the sum of its parts.
A local lad goes to church to confess his sins to the priest, what follows comprises the plot of The Confession.
To describe the story further would merely dampen its effectiveness but suffice to say it is well acted, wonderfully shot and (a virtue many short and feature films forget) knows not to overstay its welcome.
If you happen to come across it at a festival be sure to check it out.
The Confession combines a simple story with exceptional technical presentation to create a short that is truly more than the sum of its parts.
A local lad goes to church to confess his sins to the priest, what follows comprises the plot of The Confession.
To describe the story further would merely dampen its effectiveness but suffice to say it is well acted, wonderfully shot and (a virtue many short and feature films forget) knows not to overstay its welcome.
If you happen to come across it at a festival be sure to check it out.
why bother???
dubshane6 December 2008
If anyone want to know whats wrong with the irish film industry then check this out! Why of why do irish filmmakers think that triumphing short films as such will get them anywhere. As someone who views many a short at the circuits both in Europe and the Us they are usually well crafted and by students from film schools etc...te irish unfortunately plough everything behind them as a final product! and this film is no exception . ...a cliché irish short movie from start to finish....its like someone telling you a joke in a pub that goes on and on and and ur just gaggin for the punchline to put you out of your misery!!!
Acting was OK, script was poor and the camera-work clichéd from start to finish. unoriginal and to be honest it plagiarizes a well known gag, even the director admits this!!!
Whoever made the decision to put this in from of the equally awful Dylan Moran movie was off their rockers!! Please irish filmmakers get a grip....leave the shorts for the film schools! ....and if you are going to do it be a little more original that this!!!
Avoid!
Acting was OK, script was poor and the camera-work clichéd from start to finish. unoriginal and to be honest it plagiarizes a well known gag, even the director admits this!!!
Whoever made the decision to put this in from of the equally awful Dylan Moran movie was off their rockers!! Please irish filmmakers get a grip....leave the shorts for the film schools! ....and if you are going to do it be a little more original that this!!!
Avoid!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews