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DVD W imie…
 Run time: 102 min Rating: 6.6 Genres: Drama | Thriller Director: Malgorzata Szumowska Writers: Malgorzata Szumowska, Michal Englert Stars: Andrzej Chyra, Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, Lukasz Simlat |
| Storyline Adam is a Catholic priest who discovered his calling as a servant of God at the relatively late age of 21. He now lives in a village in rural Poland where he works with teenagers with behavioral problems who fight and yell abuse. He declines the advances of a young brunette named Ewa; saying he is already spoken for. However; celibacy is not the only reason for his rejection. Adam knows that he desires men and that his embrace of the priesthood has been a flight from his own sexuality. When he meets Dynia; the strange and taciturn son of a simple rural family; Adam’s self-imposed abstinence becomes a heavy burden. Written by Anonymous |
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| Plot Keywords: rural, celibacy, village, poland, catholic | |
| Details: Country: Poland Release Date: 27 September 2013 (UK) |
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I saw this film as part of the official Competition section of the Berlinale 2013. The theme at hand is very relevant in the context of child abuse as came to light in recent years, but there is more to it than that in this film. While the "children" in this film are nearly old enough to count as consensual adults, there is always the relationship between teacher and pupil to block any sort of romantic involvement. And there is the issue of celibacy for Roman Catholic priests. And if that is not enough, any intimacy between men and boys (whatever their age) is frowned upon by not only the church but also not accepted by the average man/woman in the street. The scenario contains elements of all these issues, mixed together in a believable story line.
As a bonus we see also the dilemmas that the church has to face when becoming aware that things are deviating from the official path. Our main character, priest Adam, has a proved track record of having a positive influence at all locations where he worked before. Nevertheless, there was always something going on, allegedly or not, that the church could not approve. And even when proving untrue rumors after all, it could have repercussions on their charitable work by the sheer suggestion alone. A transfer to a different place with the proverbial clean slate is then the next best thing the clerical hierarchy can do in their context, since dismissing him would be a loss for the social work that the church wants to continue at any price.
All of the above issues are intermixed in this film. That is done in such a way that one has difficulties to choose for either side, even for or against the church who is often maneuvered in a difficult position. And there is always some form of collateral damage due to suddenly broken relationships, deserving our pity as well. The perfect casting and superb acting carry this film and make into a believable piece of work. Having lived devoid of religious beliefs for the greater part of my life, I cannot follow in the footsteps of most of the characters in this film. And we should not forget this this happens in Poland, but even being from The Netherlands where I live, we know that their actions and beliefs are not extreme or otherwise unbelievable.
To say the least. The movie will not leave you completely after watching it. Whatever reaction it does create, it will stay with you. It's not an easy or light theme it takes on. Therefor it had to be careful. But it is not too careful. You have scenes that are explicit in its sexual nature (even if not completely graphic).
But it is the overall feeling this movie might leave you with and the moral choices the characters are taking. It is not easy to watch at all and you might understand the characters or you might start to hate some of them too. But I can't imagine anyone watching this, feeling nothing (even if its just disgust). The acting is really good and you get the feeling as if this is really happening (some might argue that it is close to some truth, which wouldn't be wrong I reckon). Tough but maybe still rewarding watch
This is a very effective, very positive and yet oddly disturbing movie about the fitful coming out of a 40ish gay priest in Poland. His name is Adam, and he looks nothing like a priest except while on duty. He's always known he's gay, but he's serious about his vocation and has stayed closeted in order to keep his vows of celibacy.
He has a special gift for helping troubled teenage boys, which his superiors value greatly. His homosexuality has never led to anything remotely inappropriate with a boy (or with a man, for that matter), but he is periodically transferred in order to keep even rumors from interfering with his very valuable ministry. Most recently he was moved from Warsaw to an isolated rural parish with a small work-home for boys on furlough from reformatories.
This is a complex movie, and trying to summarize its plot would be a disservice. It is not predictable, not typical of gay movies, of priest movies, or of any other sort of movies I can think of. It's not the story of a type of man but of THIS man. So, like any real human being, Adam is more complicated than a normal movie character, and the director does not try to make him easy to understand.
In part because it's NOT predictable, this movie is fascinating to watch, and the end is especially satisfying. The movie is disturbing not because of anything that happens, but because everyone and everything in it looks dirty.
I know that sounds superficial, but sometimes the most superficial things in life are the most distressing. Even after bathing, the characters look grimy, everything indoors is dingy, and outdoors is nothing but dust. I don't know if rural Poland really is as miserable as this movie makes it appear, or if the director was intentionally creating a disturbing ambiance for the movie.
Although it's disturbing, that ambiance adds to the complexity of the movie and enhances its effectiveness. I watched it twice; it was richer and even more satisfying the second time.
Polish screenwriter, producer and director Malgorzata Szumowska's fifth feature film which she co-wrote with Polish screenwriter and cinematographer Michal Englert and co-produced, is inspired by an article she read in a newspaper. It premiered In competition at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival in 2013, was shot on location in Poland and is a Polish production which was produced by producer Agnieszka Kurzydlo. It tells the story about a Polish Catholic priest named Adam whom has been moved from his position in Warsaw and transferred to a rural village where he in addition to practicing and performing his duties as a priest manages a center for disadvantaged young boys with his friend named Michal. Adam starts becoming friendly with a woman named Ewa whilst he is staying there, but as Adam's colleague, the young boys he is working with and the people who lives there, she is unaware that Adam is hiding something.
Distinctly and subtly directed by European filmmaker Malgorzata Szumowska, this finely paced fictional tale which is narrated from multiple viewpoints though mostly from the main character's point of view, draws a mindful portrayal of a man of faith who does not have priest written all over him, who is in an ongoing ordeal with chastising himself and his relationship with a younger man named Lukasz. While notable for its naturalistic and atmospheric milieu depictions, fine production design by production designer Marek Zawierucha, sterling cinematography by Polish cinematographer Michal Englert and use of colors and light, this narrative-driven story which quietly and efficiently conveys how in some cases intolerance and certain traditional views can undermine the dignity of, cause involuntary and unnecessary loneliness and in the worst case scenario make someone think that they have no place in a society and that they in staying true to themselves have betrayed others in an unredeemable way, depicts a heartrending and empathic study of character and contains a great instrumental score by composers Pawel Mykietyn and Adam Walicki.
This modestly romantic, at times humorous, somewhat impassioned, conversational and far from overly theological, political or preaching drama which is set during a summer in Poland in the 21st century and which salutes the human spirit and its unwritten right to pursue its true nature is an exemplary and pivotal contribution to modern cinema from a filmmaker who in the name of… tells this love-story in the same way as a heterosexual love-story would be told and whose love for her characters and for cinema shines through, and is impelled and reinforced by its cogent narrative structure, subtle character development and continuity, various characters, timely and efficient use of music, unsettling though poignant analogy, commendable and humane examination of its central theme and the fine acting performances by Polish actors Andrzej Chyra, Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, Lukasz Simlat and Polish actress Maja Ostaszewska. A tangible, conscientious, eloquent and cinematographic narrative feature which gained the Teddy Award for Best Feature Film at the 63rd Berlin Film Festival in 2013.