HTF REVIEW: "The crime of Padre Amaro" (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) (with screenshots)

Ronald Epstein · 04-05-2003, 03:40 AM

The crime of Padre Amaro

Studio: Columbia Pictures
Year: 2002
Rated: R
Film Length: 119 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 16X9 Enhanced Widescreen (1.85:1)
Subtitles: English, French and Spanish

...lead us not into temptation....

I really put some thought into this. If I was to
be reincarnated as a famous young actor, I think
I would choose to come back as Gael García Bernal.
Here's a young, good-looking actor who has had the
opportunity to play some very erotic roles up
against some of the hottest actresses in the
business. Those of you who took my recommendation
to watch last year's Y Tu Mamá También already
know that Bernal is one of the most promising
international young stars in the movie business.

I was quite excited when I had opened this week's
screener box to find a copy of The crime of
Padre Amaro inside. I had just heard about
this film through it's 2002 Oscar nomination and
Golden Globe win for Best Foreign Film. I
also was excited over the fact that this film looked
to be another steamy tale full of love and lust,
something I never tire of watching. Truth of the
matter here is that while some may find an abundance
of lust in The crime of Padre Amaro, I am
afraid many people will be somewhat offended by the
film's central themes that deal with a lustful priest,
a sexually curious virgin, a corrupt bishop, pregnancy,
and abortion. It's no wonder that this controversial
film is a tremendous success in Mexico, where it
now ranks as the highest-grossing domestic film in
that country's history.

The film is based on the 1870's Portuguese novel
El Crimen del Padre Amaro, by Eça de Queirós.
The story has updated to present day and set in rural
Mexico. As the film begins, we meet Padre Amaro
(Gael García Bernal), a newly ordained priest who
has been brought to the small Mexican town of Los
Reyes to assist Padre Benito (Sancho Gracia), the
older priest of the parish, who in his years as
the head of the local church has managed to tuck
away a few dark secrets, including the fact that
he has a mistress on the side who runs the local
restaurant.

Father Amaro, who shows surprise at the affair of
his superior, soon finds himself falling for a young
girl (Ana Claudia Talacon) who is continually arguing
with her boyfriend (Gaston Melo). Spiritually devoted
yet sexually curious, she's managed to eroticize both
Christ and his handsome earthly representative. It
isn't long before the handsome young priest is found
fumbling his fingers within her buttoned blouse.

In a side story, Padre Benito is involved with a
kingpin drug dealer, accepting laundered money
contributions. Of course, Benito justifies his
actions as minor necessary evils serving a greater
good -- the laundered money funds a new hospital.

How is the transfer?

Overall, this transfer looks above average. Colors
are nicely rendered and fully saturated, with
accurately represented fleshtones. Black levels
aren't exceptionally deep as the film sometimes
takes on dull tones. I also noticed the appearance
of occasional background noise, particularly in
building walls and various skyline shots. Of course,
I am just being my usual nit picky self here.

The film's Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Track (you
should not watch this dubbed) sounds very spacial
with dialogue that is nicely rendered and clearly
audible. With excellent audio separation across
the fronts, the rears provide some much needed
ambiance to many of the outdoor sequences as well
as adding echo to many of the film's church sequences.
In addition, Rosino Serrano's synthesized and often
choral-filled score wraps itself nicely across the
rear channels.

Special Features

What initially seemed to be an error on MGM's
release of Y Tu Mamá También, has now become
a cruel joke on this DVD. Yes, folks, the
full-length commentary with director Carlos
Carrera and accompanying actor is entirely in Spanish.
Now I ask you, why on earth did Columbia include
a foreign commentary for a English-speaking audience?
Even more disturbing, why did Columbia market this
DVD for Region 1 audiences without giving any
back-cover specs warning of its content? I feel
sorry for Americans who buy this DVD anticipating
the advertised commentary, only to pop the DVD in
and find out its all in Spanish. Will the studios
kindly please advertise the fact that these
commentaries are in a foreign language?

Interestingly, we get two of the same (but separate)
making of featurettes -- one in English and
one in Spanish. Running 5 minutes in length, this
is strictly promotional fare that can easily be
skipped. Nothing is learned here other than the fact
that the filming of the movie was mobbed by fans
who wanted to get a glimpse of Gael García Bernal.

Oh, big whoop! A Poster Gallery gives us
a look at approximately 6 different poster designs
used to promote the film.

The film's domestic and international trailers
are included here as well as a trailer for Talk
To Her, a film by Pedro Almodóvar. A cast and
crew filmography is also included.

Final Thoughts

Forget the Special Features on this DVD. They are
useless to anyone who does not understand Spanish
and/or doesn't need to see a glossy featurette.

What counts here is the film. That is what I am
selling this DVD on.

As I mentioned previously, The crime of Padre Amaro
is filled with enough sin that it will probably
offend everyone who sees it. Yet, it is the mere
fact that this film dwells into the modern-day
traumas regarding church scandals that makes this
movie powerful and hard-hitting.

If you know what you are getting into before you
rent or purchase this, I promise that this to be
a highly provoking and compelling film well worth
watching. For that reason it receives a HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED status.

Release Date: April 22, 2003

All screen captures have been further compressed.
They are for illustrative purposes only and do not
represent actual picture quality

Bruce Hedtke · 04-05-2003, 04:18 AM

Nice review, Ron and I agree that some of the central themes might (or will) offend but what made the film so powerful to me was not the illicit affair or the subsequent events that followed. It was the fact that by the end, I felt sorry for Amaro. If you looked at it from the most basic standpoint, by all rights, you should hate Amaro for what he did-

Spoiler:

But for me, I just thought of how heavy a burden it was for this young priest and how he was going to have to live with what he had done for the rest of his life. The way the film delivered on that was exceptional and really spoke of how strong the film was. Definitely a must see.

Bruce

Julian Lalor · 04-05-2003, 05:02 PM

Does the commentary at least have an English language subtitle track? The UK DVD (unlike the US DVD) of Y Tu Mamá También did, which at least makes sense of its inclusion.

Ed St. Clair · 04-05-2003, 08:19 PM

It's a "Crime" this movie had too be soooooo
controversial!

At least have subtitles for the commentary track!

Juan C Toro · 04-06-2003, 11:41 AM

Region 1 DVDs are for North America. Last I checked, Latinos were the largest minority in the US, and they also buy DVDs.

So stop being so surprised to the fact that the commentary is in Spanish.

JC

**HTF Ads**

Lucho Cohaila · 04-06-2003, 12:42 PM

Muchas gracias JC.....

Saludos,

rhett · 04-06-2003, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Region 1 DVDs are for North America. Last I checked, Latinos were the largest minority in the US, and they also buy DVDs.

So stop being so surprised to the fact that the commentary is in Spanish.

Read his review over again, he isn't the least bit surprised it is in Spanish. It is the fact that this wasn't publicized that surprised him. Spanish or not, the biggest consumer for this product is most likely going to be English speaking, so knowing before hand that the commentary is useless to the English may help dictate whether or not they buy the title.

I think it is definitely a worthy complaint.

Matthew Chmiel · 04-06-2003, 03:50 PM

On a side note to the extra/commentary being in Spanish and not English: with Columbia's release of the German horror film Anatomy, there was a little blurb on the back cover saying: "All special features in German with yellow English subtitles" (or something to that effect).

You have to remember, this film was not produced in America, and Columbia is basically just taking the extras from an already produced DVD in another country.