Armand Not the Jacob ladder. Only ladder of sin. Not the sin of a Catholic priest. But sin of a small world, mixture between compromises and escapes. Map of ordinary swamp of a lost place. Metamorphis of a young man who happens be priest. And the death of innocence in a place not bad, fake or promiscuous but just gray. Full of good intentions. And full of Hell crumbs. I do not think that this movie is against Catholic Church. It is not a manifesto but only testimony. It is not picture of a Mexican Church but only tale of an existence. It is cruel and lucid and heavy. But it is adaptation of a novel. Sure, father Amaro is more than a character. It may be a mirror. And his crime is more profound than a young girl abortion and death. It is a kind of baptism in a circle with dark laws and sharp limits.

JonathanLuther Directed by Carlos Carrera, starring Gael Garcia Bernal (Amaro), Sancho Gracia (Benito), and Ana Talancon (Amelia), this film examines the presence of the Catholic church in Mexico and the grip it has on Mexican politics and reality (ironically, efforts were made by the church to block the film). It is based on the Portugese novel "O Crimen do Padre Amaro" by Queiroz. There are no fast-paced, action-packed and flashy qualities present in many blockbusters nowadays, but the film does keep one's interest in the melodrama and hypocrisy that unfolds.The movie starts with a fresh, newly ordained priest (Amaro) who is sent to a small town to study under the seasoned Benito. Amaro is immediately awakened to hypocrisy and corruption that his Catholic counterparts are steeped in. Amaro's morality is tested against his ambition, and the things like love and truth fall victim to his quest for power.The movie asks the crucial question, "What place does the Catholic church have in the modern era?" The movie treats the tradition of the church as an artifact, lost long ago and replaced by actions that are non-compatible with its teachings. This is voiced by Carrera in the opening scene where Amaro drives by Catholic tombstones: "They don't mean anything - they are forgotten." But the church remains very powerful, having symbiotic relationships with drug lords, government and media that allow it to persist and influence Mexico.So much detail was taken in the film's depiction of Mexico: the contrast of modernity and tradition (donkeys and cars on the streets), the economic woes of the 1990s and resulting corruption, the Catholic church's scandals, and increasing liberalism at the time. Although the movie does require some patience, it is well worth it. The film is thoughtful in every possible way, and the two main characters are quite the lookers.-JonLuther

Ricardo P Technically speaking, El Crimen del Padre Amaro is a mediocre movie, at best. The soundtrack is repetitive, the acting overdone and the cinematography not much better than the one at your regular Mexican soap opera. But the most impressive thing about this film is, in my view, its unbalancedness and ability to distort the reality.It starts relatively well, grabbing your attention and making you think about the power of certain institutions over poor and isolated communities. "A nice portrayal of alienation", you'd think. Well, you'd be wrong.As the movie evolves, its partiality and hate towards religion in general (and the Catholic Church, in particular) becomes really clear, and what could be a mature, holistic analysis of the role of religion in people's life rapidly becomes an excuse to harshly criticize the Catholic Church, depicting it only as a web of lies and contradictions. We all know those two things are inherent to most religions, but what shouldn't have been forgotten is that they are just parts of a much more complex reality.Overall, the writer/director's reductionist and exaggerated tale of corruption reveals a complete misunderstanding of the Western society and its relationship with religions. Max Weber must be rolling in his grave.

lastliberal Only the third feature film by Mexican director Carlos Carrera, it was a Golden Globe and Oscar nominee. I am sure that the Catholic Church was not happy with that! I can see Bill Donahue of the Catholic League fuming and frothing over a film that features a pastor laundering drug money and sleeping with his housekeeper; another priest openly defying his Bishop to minister to the guerrillas in the mountains; a wacky woman who fakes taking communion only to hide it and carry it home to give to her cat; and, the greatest crime of all, Father Amaro deflowering a young girl, getting her pregnant, and praying for a miracle, which came, but not as the church would approve.There are the book purists who feel that Eça de Queirós' novel is not given proper respect, but a movie is not a book. Gael García Bernal (Babel, Bad Education, The Motorcycle Diaries) is very good as the immoral new priest who impregnates the pious Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancón - Fast Food Nation) while spouting Bible verses to her. Of course, he uses the Song of Solomon to talk about her hair and her breasts, which were ample, indeed.Sancho Gracia was very good as Padre Benito, the only authentic priest in the movie - the one the Bishop wanted to excommunicate! A least they didn't diddle any young boys.