I must say I am impressed with this deep showcase of thought provoking Polish cinema, more so that considering the topic of the story, it was co-written and directed by a women filmmaker Malgorzata Szumowska. This meditative drama won Teddy Award for Best Feature Film at the 63rd Berlin Film Festival in 2013 which is quite impressive in itself. The story evolves around a Jesuit priest Adam (Andrzej Chyra) who runs a place in a village in rural Poland for teenagers with behavioral problems that need a strong Catholic guidance. He himself seems like a good honest man, yet we can sense that under the mask of control he hides deep seated loneliness and longing for human contact. As the film progresses it is getting clearer that father Adam hides from the world that in fact he is gay and the reason why he became a priest at age 21 in is to hide this fact from himself and others. To extend predictably he gets emotionally involved with one of the boys which eventually has it's consequences. Homosexuality or pedophilia in Catholic Church is very sensitive subject therefor it is an interesting fact that it took a female director to look at the story with enough distance and taste to not make it scandalous or obscene. In fact the way the story is told resembles every other heterosexual romantic story and that is exactly were the dramatic straight of this film is. Watching "In the name..." (Polish title W imie...) another movie with a similar subject comes to mind called "Priest" (1994) though this British drama was much more graphic and less tasteful. There is a huge character depth here and the fact is that for audience who are more use to action based movies it might be too slow and deep. However if you enjoy powerful subtly acted character driven dramas this might be a movie that you will enjoy. Me having a brother who is a high ranking Catholic priest back in Poland I always admired the sacrifice the 'man of God' go through in their celibacy. Inability to feel human touch and intimacy always made me admire them for the straight of their character to give up on our most natural impulses. On the other hand the repression of does impulses creates a longing that often ends in perpetual loneliness and heavy depression. In a nutshell this is what "In the name of..." is about, choosing the homoerotic angle as a form of narration and to some extent pointing to priesthood as an escape of homosexual man who can not face their own desires and choose a path of a moral dogmas Catholic faith provides. It is a slow film but beautifully shot by also co-writer of the script Michal Englert and superbly, subtly acted by by Polish actors Andrzej Chyra, Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, Lukasz Simlat and Polish actress Maja Ostaszewska among others. The music composition by great instrumental score from composers Pawel Mykietyn and Adam Walicki is also a big part of the experience concentrating purposefully on many violin solos to enhance the emotional narration that pushes the film forward. All in all despite of it's sensitive and controversial topic this film got to offer a lot of intellectual feedback that might stay with you long after it's ending.
For more of my reviews please go to: www.facebook.com/JanuszMadejTechnique
For more of my reviews please go to: www.facebook.com/JanuszMadejTechnique