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El Crimen Del Padre Amaro
2002
Gael Garcia Bernal (Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, AMORES PERROS) stars in EL CRIMEN DEL PADRE AMARO, a controversial drama that was a box office smash in its native Mexico. Directed by Carlos Carrera, the film tells the story of a young priest who succumbs to temptation and corruption. Father Amaro (Bernal) is a handsome 24-year-old who .. Read more
| Starring | Gael Garcia Bernal, Ana Claudia Talancon, Pedro Armendariz Jr., Angelica Aragon |
|---|---|
| Director | Carlos Carrera |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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El Crimen Del Padre Amaro
Gael Garcia Bernal (Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, AMORES PERROS) stars in EL CRIMEN DEL PADRE AMARO, a controversial drama that was a box office smash in its native Mexico. Directed by Carlos Carrera, the film tells the story of a young priest who succumbs to temptation and corruption. Father Amaro (Bernal) is a handsome 24-year-old who has recently been assigned to a new church in Los Reyes. Upon arrival, he discovers that his mentor, Father Benito (Sancho Garcia), is having an affair with a local restaurant owner, Sanjuanera (Angelica Aragon). At first shocked, Father Amaro soon finds himself in a moral predicament of his own. Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon), Sanjuanera's 16-year-old daughter, is a gorgeous teenager who falls deeply in love with the tempted priest. Before long, Father Amaro and Amelia are entangled in a steamy relationship, further testing the young priest's moral fiber. Based on the classic Portuguese novel by Eca de Quieroz, Carrera's film is a scathing indictment of the hypocrisy and corruption that has plagued the Catholic Church from its inception. As the confused and conflicted priest, Bernal delivers another magnetic performance, cementing his status as one of Mexico's hottest superstars.
| Starring | Gael Garcia Bernal, Ana Claudia Talancon, Pedro Armendariz Jr., Angelica Aragon, Sancho Gracia |
|---|---|
| Director | Carlos Carrera |
| Studio | SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 54 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: Spanish |
| Dubbed | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 13 Oct 2003 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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Highly controversial — and commercially successful — in its native Mexico, this tale of a young Catholic priest who's led into temptation during his new countryside posting, has photogenic appeal if limited depth thanks to its soap-opera level script. Gael García Bernal, an international star following excellent performances in Amores Perros and Y Tu Mamá También, has narrow scope for characterisation as the lustful priest, but the powerful finale does reveal a tougher side to his amiable personality. Although Bernal's union with attractive churchgoer Ana Claudia Talancón is the film's primary concern, the eccentric supporting characters within the small, scandal-ridden community and the exposé of political corruption within the town are what really fuel the story, as, overall, the film lacks the cinematic skill required to justify its rather generous nomination for best foreign film.
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Absorbing, high-class soap opera that marked another step in Gael Garcia Bernal's path to international stardom.
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Most helpful member's review
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37 out of 52 people found this review helpful
Pass the guacamole, Pablo, I'm bored
I wanted to like this film, I really did. I’d like to see myself as being the sort of person who enjoys sophisticated Mexican movies on a Saturday evening, and then discusses them afterwards, using sophisticated phrases like ‘subtly complex characterization’, and celebrating outstanding cinematography. I’d like to be known for my sensitive taste in Spanish language poetry and my innate sympathy for the rich tapestry of life in Catholic Central America.
And I was doing quite well too. As the movie opened with a dramatic juxtaposition of the criminality and beauty of small-town Mexican life, I settled down, opened my first packet of Mexican Salsa Doritos and idly thought about having another stab at reading Mario Vargas Llosa over the weekend. But there’s something slightly numbing about a long film in which surprisingly little actually happens. And when you spend the last half hour hoping that everyone will vacate the screen sharpish and give the credits a chance to get rolling, you realise that your aspirational Hispanophilia may have to wait for a while longer.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s some subtly complex characterization here, especially of the principal character, and it’s beautifully shot. But it all just seems a bit boring. Sigh. Back to reality then. -
Most recent members' review
View all -
37 out of 52 people found this review helpful
Pass the guacamole, Pablo, I'm bored
I wanted to like this film, I really did. I’d like to see myself as being the sort of person who enjoys sophisticated Mexican movies on a Saturday evening, and then discusses them afterwards, using sophisticated phrases like ‘subtly complex characterization’, and celebrating outstanding cinematography. I’d like to be known for my sensitive taste in Spanish language poetry and my innate sympathy for the rich tapestry of life in Catholic Central America.
And I was doing quite well too. As the movie opened with a dramatic juxtaposition of the criminality and beauty of small-town Mexican life, I settled down, opened my first packet of Mexican Salsa Doritos and idly thought about having another stab at reading Mario Vargas Llosa over the weekend. But there’s something slightly numbing about a long film in which surprisingly little actually happens. And when you spend the last half hour hoping that everyone will vacate the screen sharpish and give the credits a chance to get rolling, you realise that your aspirational Hispanophilia may have to wait for a while longer.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s some subtly complex characterization here, especially of the principal character, and it’s beautifully shot. But it all just seems a bit boring. Sigh. Back to reality then. -
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