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Gael García Bernal, Sancho Gracia, Ana Claudia Talancón, Damián Alcázar, Angélica Aragón ... see more see more... , Luisa Huertas , Ernesto Gomez Cruz , Pedro Armendariz Jr. , Gastón Melo , Verónica Langer , Jorge Zárate , Andrés Montiel , Roger Nevares , Gerardo Moscoso

A priest discovers the path of virtue can be steep, and temptation can demand a heavy price, in this controversial drama from Mexico. Father Amaro (Gael Garcia Bernal) is a young Catholic priest whose... read more read more... mentor, the Bishop (Ernesto Gomez Cruz), expects great things from him. However, like all priests, Amaro must first be assigned where he is needed most, which leads him to the small rural community of Los Reyes, where Amaro is to assist Father Benito (Sancho Gracia). To his shock, Amaro discovers Benito is hardly following Holy Law -- he's having an affair with Sanjuanera (Angelica Aragon), a woman who runs a local restaurant, and he's been helping a drug dealer launder his profits in exchange for large donations to the church, which Benito feels is justified as the funds are being used to build a hospital and orphanage for the poor. Amaro is disgusted with Benito's actions, but he soon discovers his own weaknesses when he falls in love with Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon), Sanjuanera's teenage daughter. As Amelia finds herself falling for Amaro, she breaks off her relationship with Ruben (Andres Montiel), a reporter. Ruben responds by publishing a story which reveals the details of Benito's dealings with the drug dealers; Benito in turn tries to lay the blame at the feet of noble Father Natalio (Damian Alcazar), whose work with local peasants has been wrongly interpreted as supporting armed revolutionary factions. As Amaro tries desperately to distance himself from the growing scandal, he receives shocking news from Amelia when he learns she's pregnant with his child. The Crime of Father Amaro's portrayal of corruption within the Catholic Church led to an outcry from Catholic organizations, both in Mexico and the United States, where they attempted to organize a boycott of the film. However, the tactic failed in Mexico, where the controversy helped to boost ticket sales, making it the highest-grossing Mexican film ever in its native country. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

73% liked it

12,254 ratings

Critics

62% liked it

82 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: Carlos Carrera

Release Date: November 15, 2002

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DVD Release Date: April 1, 2003

Stats: 608 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (608)

  • itsjustme2004
    October 12, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    Really good movie. Gael Garcia Bernal is a top of the line actor. This is a well made, well written, and well done film.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 28, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    One of the most controversial films ever made
  • deano
    February 21, 2009
    deano
    One of the most provocative, captivating and controversial films of the year. An 1875 novel by Portuguese writer Eca de Queiros is updated to modern Mexico, becoming a slick, well-acted melodrama. The film sparked controversy in Mexico for its portrayal of the Catholic church. Im... read morepressive.
  • hobster1
    August 26, 2008
    hobster1
    Lurid, one-sided assault detailing corruption within the Catholic church. What a fresh idea! Wildly schizophrenic film abruptly changes focus from one story to the next as it recounts various stories of immoral priests in Latin America, who struggle between their religious vow... read mores and earthly desires. Ultimately, nothing is resolved and the audience is left with a lot of unanswered questioned in this thoroughly unsatisfying film.
  • vierasesine
    March 28, 2008
    vierasesine
    Being non-Catholic (and non-Christian) I wasn't touched or moved by this film in the way that I probably would have, were I of that religious conviction (and active in that faith). But I can still understand why this film shocked so many when it came out.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    January 14, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Another telenovela passing by as a movie. Buean trabajo Serrano Limon, hiciste ver a medio mundo esta cosa. Por que no ahora una campaña para ir a ver como te ahorcas de una de las campanas de la catedral del zocalo, y asi librarnos de tu inutil existencia? Hasta pagaria por ver ... read moreeso.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    November 9, 2007
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "The Crime of Padre Amaro" is not worthy of the controversy it spawned but is worthy of anyone interested in a subtitled Mexican drama about an ambitious young priest in a rural diocese who succumbs to the desires of the flesh only to find the one transgression leads to another. ... read moreAlthough the plot is worn and the story melodramatic and lacking intensity, the film offers an abundance of colorful characters, rich dramatic textures, solid performances, and good artistic and technical execution. Will play best to young adult audiences and foreign film buffs.
  • fernandorafael
    September 5, 2007
    fernandorafael
    EL CRIMEN DEL PADRE AMARO, Mexico's contender for Best Foreign Film at the 2002 Academy Awards is definitely overrated.. it's not a bad movie but it definitely didn't deserve all the awards or the title for highest grossing film ever in Mexico, there are a lot of holes in the scr... read moreipt.. Gael García Bernal is not that good, the camera work and the photography could be better also, but the performances by the women Ana Claudia Talancón (who btw is also gorgeous), Angelica Aragon and Luisa Huertas are REALLY good...special mention to one of Mexico's greatest acting talents (if not THE greatest) Damian Alcazar; his performance, though brief, it's awesome. El Crimen... delivers really intense drama sequences and very shocking moments, other than the aspects i already mentioned, it's a so-so film...
  • purplemegan
    February 9, 2007
    purplemegan
    *SPOILERS* I can't review this without giving the whole plot away. so i liked the movie. but it was rather disappointing. but the more i think about it, the more it's probably more true to life the way it was. so anyway. said "handsome priest" ends up getting involved with this g... read moreirl. duh. otherwise there would be no crime. he seems all pious and good and everything and keeps preaching (no pun intended) to Amelia about their love. but everytime she says something about going public or whatever he keeps talking about how his job/life as a priest is more important to him than her. so then girl gets pregnant. and of course he doesnt want to deal with it. so she doesnt tell anyone and goes back to her old boyfriend who wanted to marry her earlier in the movie. but he says he doesnt love her anymore. so the priest convinces her to get an abortion. well it's in mexico, they dont exactly have the best medical facilities, and when you want an abortion in secret you go to some shady clinic. so of course the abortion goes wrong and she ends up bleeding to death. and the bastard still doesnt confess. he blames it on the ex-boyfriend. saying the ex-boyfriend got her pregnant and he found out she was somewhere trying to get an abortion so he went to "save" her. bastard. bastard. bastard. in the beginning when they were starting the affair i didnt want them to get found out. but at the end i wanted the cranky old woman to interrupt the church service (as she had done on other occasions) and tell everyone what the priest had done. and at the same time there is all this political drama going on with two other priests concerning guerillas and money laundering for a new hospital. and it was so hypocritical and it pissed me off. so it wasnt the movie that annoyed me, but the situations in it. but as i said before, i'm sure that the lies and deceit and covering up is more true to life than people actually being held accountable for their actions when they are being a BASTARD. ok, i'm done.
  • DrZeek
    October 12, 2006
    DrZeek
    Finally, a real story about priests that doesn't involve little boys. Instead, it involves temptation, secret drug money, guerillas in the mountains, you know...average stuff. I kept thinking about a Telemundo soap opera through out, but the acting is strong enough, and besides t... read morehe love plot, I was intrigued by the other politics going on inside the church.

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Critic Reviews

Peter Howell
February 14, 2003
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

For all of the criticisms of the Church in El Crimen del Padre Amaro, Carrera is quick to defend the basic humanity of his characters. Full Review

February 14, 2003
Globe and Mail

It's not hard to see why Mexican audiences are lapping this up. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
December 10, 2002
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

A lurid but timeless reminder that the bureaucracies and regulations of organized religion have nothing to do -- indeed are often at odds -- with living a God-ward life. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
December 5, 2002
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Nothing more than a stifling morality tale dressed up in peekaboo clothing. Full Review

Stanley Kauffmann
December 2, 2002
Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic

The director Carlos Carrera, who is acceptably talented, keeps the story on track -- on its various tracks.

Robert Denerstein
November 30, 2002
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

Lurid drama that goes to ridiculously great lengths to draw its sad and tawdry picture.

Roger Moore
November 29, 2002
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Take away the controversy, and it's not much more watchable than a Mexican soap opera.

Steven Rosen
November 29, 2002
Steven Rosen, Denver Post

Overall, this is a juicy movie but certainly not a trashy one. Full Review

Desson Thomson
November 27, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Works itself into a lather of passion, anguish and tragedy, but there's more to this Mexican movie than straight soap opera.

Terry Lawson
November 27, 2002
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Provides further evidence that Latin American directors are becoming increasingly adept at injecting social issues into popular entertainment.

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