Poster for Priest

Priest

1994, Drama/Lgbtq+, 1h 37m

25 Reviews 2,500+ Ratings

critics consensus

A deft directorial debut from Antonia Bird, Priest handles its sensitive subject with care -- despite certain sanctimonious sentiments. Read critic reviews

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Priest Photos

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Movie Info

The Rev. Greg Pilkington (Linus Roache) is homosexual and a Roman Catholic priest who takes his vows and his love of God seriously. When a young girl confesses to him that her father has been sexually abusing her, Pilkington is overcome with protective rage and feels that he must break the secrecy rules binding the confessional in order to stop the abuse. As the case haunts him, Pilkington is forced to confront the transgression of his lack of celibacy through sex with other men.

Rating:

R
Genre:

Drama, Lgbtq+
Original Language:

English
Director:

Antonia Bird
Producer:

George Faber, Josephine Ward
Writer:

Jimmy McGovern
Release Date (Theaters):

Mar 24, 1995 original
Release Date (Streaming):

Sep 7, 1999
Box Office (Gross USA):

$3.8M
Runtime:

1h 37m
Distributor:

Miramax Home Entertainment [us], Miramax Films
Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Cast & Crew

Linus Roache
Father Greg Pilkington

Tom Wilkinson
Father Matthew Thomas

Cathy Tyson
Maria Kerrigan

James Ellis
Father Ellerton

Robert Carlyle
Graham

John Bennett
Father Redstone

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Critic Reviews for Priest

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (9)

Full Review… Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader

Full Review… David Ansen Newsweek

Full Review… Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly

Full Review… Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle

Full Review… Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle

Full Review… James Berardinelli ReelViews

Full Review… Sheila Reid Women in the Life

Full Review… Quentin Crisp Christopher Street

Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com

Full Review… Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault

Full Review… Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal

Full Review… Michael Szymanski Zap2it.com

View All Critic Reviews (25)

Audience Reviews for Priest

Oct 20, 2016

A dark drama about the crisis of faith of a priest who is a homosexual. There are a few problems with the film: There was not a single likeable character, especially Father Thomas who is a communist hypocrite; it seemed more like an attack on Catholic church more than anything and the story was really slow. However, the acting was pretty impressive and the direction was also pretty good to make it worthwatching, even if frustrating.

Super Reviewer
Aug 02, 2014

A well-meaning film that touches on too many issues to be effective. Sadly, this results in a degeneration into preachiness to make its points. A good performance by Roache and a somewhat better one by Wilkinson. Barely adequate production values.

Super Reviewer
Feb 24, 2012

Unreal at the time, Priest still remains a very powerful film about a homosexual who tries to hide behind the veils of the priesthood and finds his humanity something truly to be wrestled with. Gripping and great.

John B Super Reviewer
Aug 31, 2011

Its a film that deals with the serious ethical dilemmas that exist in the real world application of the Catholic faith, specifically if its even possible to do so. I'll concede that it gets preachy, but for the most part its truthful and very moving.

Alec B Super Reviewer

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