"Verfehlung" is a German 90-minute movie from 2015. It is the most known work by writer and director Gerd Schneider, but it is also his first full feature film if we don't count a 50-minute documentary from very early in his career. For the latter he received some awards recognition and so did he for this one here. The subject is a very controversial one, namely sexual abuse by priests, but this film is not trying to really be important or make a huge statement with regard to that, just tell the specific story of one priest whose friend is accused of immoral acts. We are basically on the same level of information as the protagonist played by Blomberg from start to finish and this is pretty nice. We know what he knows basically. It is a very bleak and realistic film and I also think that's a positive component here. Maybe it is not too ambitious really, but it is all it wants to be I guess and Blomberg's as well as Schneider's approach is working out well. I think everybody with an interest in this specific subject can check it out, but it is also for everybody else who enjoys a good drama as the church aspect is really not too dominant in here. It is much more about (the loss of) friendship, suspicion and about the unfolding of a personal tragedy that eventually has no winners, just losers. The film is also not really all about if he did it or not, but more about the way the truth unfolds and the impact it has on all the characters. There are emotional and dramatic scenes like the football game or the final meeting between the two friends, but even these never feel for the sake of it. It's solid craftsmanship from start to finish here. Good job by everybody involved and I found it nice to see Blomberg as the undisputed lead in a film for once. I think he is definitely among the more (maybe most) talented actors we have here in Germany when it comes to the age group of 40-49. Check out this film that is also known under the title of "The Culpable", "Was nicht sein darf" and "Die Verantwortlichen".
3 Reviews
Mea Maxima Culpa
dbdumonteil2 September 2016
This burning subject was also treated in a French MTV work "Le Silence Des Eglises" starring Robin Renucci ,a few years back.
Three priests ,three friends who do a lot of sport together:the three musketeers...One day ,one of them (Dominik) is accused of sexually abusing a teenager;whereas Jacob tries to investigate ,Oliver's priority is to hush a scandalous rumor.
"I've known him for years!" says a desperate Jacob;and however,he KNOWS,perhaps more than he tells us;here comes the tragic problem of the seal of confession: this is certainly this buried secret who reminds Jacob of Christ's parable :"you see the mote in your brother's eye ,but not the beam in your own".Actually,if the affair is kept quiet,other children might be raped and he would be responsible...
.....just as the bishop in the French " Silence Des Eglises" (=the silence of the churches)who knew the priest's behavior and did not want his church to lose any credibility;that's exactly what Olivier says after his friend meets the bishop ,who ,cowardly,speaks of mercy and forgiving ,and is more interested in the ordination ceremony.
"I was in love ! it was not a rape! you know who I am !" screams a distraught Dominik;"No,I haven't got any idea of who you are " his mate answers .Even the purest friendship can be called into question,so can the religious authorities.
A movie which should not be missed ,"Verfehlung" is as convincing a statement as "Le silence Des Eglises";the ARTE channel screened both films.It's not a true story,but we have all heard of affairs such as this one.
Three priests ,three friends who do a lot of sport together:the three musketeers...One day ,one of them (Dominik) is accused of sexually abusing a teenager;whereas Jacob tries to investigate ,Oliver's priority is to hush a scandalous rumor.
"I've known him for years!" says a desperate Jacob;and however,he KNOWS,perhaps more than he tells us;here comes the tragic problem of the seal of confession: this is certainly this buried secret who reminds Jacob of Christ's parable :"you see the mote in your brother's eye ,but not the beam in your own".Actually,if the affair is kept quiet,other children might be raped and he would be responsible...
.....just as the bishop in the French " Silence Des Eglises" (=the silence of the churches)who knew the priest's behavior and did not want his church to lose any credibility;that's exactly what Olivier says after his friend meets the bishop ,who ,cowardly,speaks of mercy and forgiving ,and is more interested in the ordination ceremony.
"I was in love ! it was not a rape! you know who I am !" screams a distraught Dominik;"No,I haven't got any idea of who you are " his mate answers .Even the purest friendship can be called into question,so can the religious authorities.
A movie which should not be missed ,"Verfehlung" is as convincing a statement as "Le silence Des Eglises";the ARTE channel screened both films.It's not a true story,but we have all heard of affairs such as this one.
The REST of the story, and more
icelanderlight26 September 2016
Verfehlung (English: Culpable) is the story of a young, beloved and successful German Catholic Priest accused of sexual child abuse - from the viewpoint of his best friend. It tracks very well to the history of such claims and illuminates the reaction of the church and the parents of the children. It is a very well crafted film that captures the events with a spectrum 5 times greater than I have seen it done previously. Well crafted handling of "the poisoning of the well".
The film action occurs in the present. The critical question posed to me is whether the Church (as Mother} is more important than the members that make it up. In the parallel case of a real mother in danger to her life because of an at-risk pregnancy, the church sides with the infant to the detriment of the mother.
The film action occurs in the present. The critical question posed to me is whether the Church (as Mother} is more important than the members that make it up. In the parallel case of a real mother in danger to her life because of an at-risk pregnancy, the church sides with the infant to the detriment of the mother.
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