Controversy that's worth the effort
It is difficult to begin discussing this movie as I know little to nothing about the Catholic religion, other than that it’s supposed to be similar to Judaism in terms of guilt, so that is easily enough to relate to being a lapsed Jew myself. Not to mention that all religions seem to view certain issues as sinful, including homosexuality. Indeed society still frowns on this lifestyle so that most films that depict these subjects end up being considered controversial. Though if a film like this is only seen because it goes against the grain, I am all for it.
When this movie was released Miramax took a bit of negative publicity for it, being on Disney’s payroll, but it’s one of the few films I deeply admire them for distributing. After all, how many gay-themed films that are courageous enough to show men being affectionate to each other actually make it to the public eye? Tom Hanks gave many an interview after Philadelphia about how angry he was that love scenes between he and Antonio Banderas ended up on the cutting room floor, which ironically helped it become a box office hit (of course so did the Oscars). On the other hand, a film like Long Time Companion, which centered on several couples of gay men during the AIDS epidemic (see previous review of mine on this masterpiece) had a limited run and probably didn’t make its money back.
Priest focuses on the turmoil of a new priest in a small working class British community. The opening shot was his predecessor smashing a cross through the window of the local bishop who retired him, so instantly you know that each member of this church will have their dilemmas with the system. The young Father Gregory is asked to join as he wants to work in a community setting and he is full of zeal about the purpose of his career.
He shares a home with Father Matthew (Tom Wilkonson, who would later be in The Full Monty with Robert Carlyle), but there is quickly tension between this middle-aged priest and this innocent new recruit. Neither of them agree about each other’s form of sermon, and to top it off, he learns that Matthew and the maid are in a relationship. The strictness of Gregory’s character only begins to break when she comes in to tell him the facts of their relationship and he’s compelled to apologize for his lack of respect.
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