Calvary (2014 film)
Calvary is a 2014 Irish drama film written and directed by John Michael McDonagh. It stars Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran, Domhnall Gleeson, M. Emmet Walsh and Isaach de Bankolé. The film began production in September 2012 and was released in April 2014 in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, in July in Australia and in August 2014 in the United States. The film was screened at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival. Plot

Accepting confession from an unseen person, Father James hears how the man suffered regular childhood sexual abuse from a priest who has since died. Father James expresses his lament for the man's pain, but the man boasts that he's planning to murder James. Citing widespread indifference towards priest child abuse, the confessor claims the sacrifice of an innocent priest will draw a stronger outrage than punishment of a guilty one, despite said violence being as senseless and unjust as his own rape. The man gives James a week to set his affairs in order, intending to kill him next Sunday. Meeting Bishop Garret Montgomery for advice, James finds him very casual about the threats. The bishop suggests it wouldn't violate the sacrament to report, as the crime has yet to be committed and the perpetrator seeks no forgiveness; ultimately, he leaves it to James to decide whether to notify the police. James instead decides to continue his parish duties as normal, but encounters a lot of hostility from a number of locals. James is also visited by his daughter, Fiona, from his marriage prior to his ordination. James attempts to discuss her attempted suicide, but she blames it on a failed relationship. James hears local butcher Jack Brennan has hit his unfaithful wife, Veronica, and James confronts each of them in turn. Jack denies it and blames Veronica's lover, Simon, and both parties attest that they're tired of their marriage. James tries to speak with Simon, who is inherently hostile due to violent Catholic missions in his native Africa. James discusses Simon with his colleague, Father Leary, but is frustrated when Leary suggests ignoring Veronica's injuries, fearing Simon may accuse them of racism. As part of his pastoral duties, James takes supplies to Gerald, an elderly, American writer. Gerald requests James obtain him a gun for his next visit, wishing to take his own life should his pain or senility become too much to bear. James visits Inspector Stanton, a retired officer, and borrows an antique revolver. Stanton comments that, early in his career, he arrested a priest on rape accusations, but was himself reassigned elsewhere while the priest escaped as a missionary. James is visited by Milo, who expresses concerns about feelings of suicide, loneliness, and pornography addiction. Milo asks about the ethics of murder in the military, feeling it is his only route of escape due to his lack of qualifications. James suggests Milo simply move somewhere less isolated, but Milo refuses to relent. Millionaire banker Michael Fitzgerald requests a house visit from Father James. Michael bemoans that his family has deserted him, that he does not feel guilt for economic exploitation, and he feels detached from reality. Fitzgerald drunkenly boasts of his wealth while insulting James, and James responds that he cannot grant penance to someone who only wishes to mock; Fitzgerald responds by throwing a rare painting on the floor and urinating on it. At the hospital, James performs the last rites for a man fatally injured by drunk driver, and comforts the man's miraculously unscathed widow, Teresa. She bravely accepts her husband's death, believing life with love lost is better than a life without knowing love. James visits serial killer and cannibal Freddie Joyce in jail, who asks for forgiveness but insists he cannot recall where one particular victim is buried. James initially accuses Joyce of insincerity, but later pities that if God cannot understand him then nobody can. That night, the village attends a gathering at the local pub, only for the church to be destroyed in arson. The bishop insists James surrender his would-be killer for the arson, but James relents; as many parishioners have grievances with the church or him personally, James cannot be certain the killer is the arsonist. Fitzgerald offers a large sum of money to rebuild the church to the delight of Father Leary, to which James views both with great distaste. Fiona tearfully confronts James, arguing that she felt abandoned when he recovered from alcoholism after her mother's death only to leave and become a priest; James apologizes and tells Fiona he will never abandon her, spiritually at least, and they reconcile. That night, James finds his dog, Bruno, dead with his throat cut. James tearfully buries him, concealing his death from Fiona the next morning as he drives her to the train station. Walking a country lane, James has an innocent conversation with a young girl, only to be antagonized by her father. At the pub, James is mocked by the drunk locals, pushing him to drink heavily. When told to leave, James destroys the bar with the antique revolver, prompting publican Brendan to attack him with a bat. Father Leary finds James, bloody and drunk, and chides him as Brendan is a Buddhist; James berates Leary, mocking his ignorance and his uselessness as a priest. The next morning, James finds Leary exiting in a taxi without his clerical collar, and Leary admits to strong doubts of faith. James apologizes for his insults and claims to not hate Leary, but admits that he dislikes Leary's lack of integrity. James decides to fly to Dublin to avoid his murder, and happens across the widow, Teresa. Seeing the coffin of Teresa's husband being disrespected by the airport staff, James instead returns to his parish. En route to the beach on the fateful Sunday, James meets Gerald. Gerald cheerfully boasts he finished his book, and James compliments his skills as a writer and wishes him well. James calls Fiona, saying sin is considered too much and virtue not enough. He stresses the importance of forgiveness, and they completely reconcile. James throws his revolver off a cliff and into the sea, and a distressed Fitzgerald appears, implicitly intent on suicide. James promises to visit him later and help him through his issues, and embraces the tearful Fitzgerald. James waits on the beach as butcher Jack Brennan strides along the shore towards James, holding a gun. Jack confesses to the arson and to hitting Veronica, but denies killing Bruno. Hearing that James shed tears over his dog, Jack asks if he cried similarly over news reports concerning children abused by priests. James admits not, instead feeling detached; the enraged Jack shoots James in the side. An altar boy, Mícháel, runs towards them, but James shouts at him to flee, and he rushes for help. Jack struggles to kill James, who assures him it is not too late to stop. Jack claims otherwise, and tells James to say his prayers; James says he already has, and Jack executes him with a shot to the head. In brief tableaux, we see the parishioners and Teresa going about their quotidian lives. The final scene ends as Fiona visits Jack in prison, each tentatively picking up a telephone handset to talk across the intervening glass panel as the film cuts to black. Cast

 Brendan Gleeson as Father James 
 Chris O'Dowd as Jack Brennan
 Kelly Reilly as Fiona 
 Aidan Gillen as Dr. Frank Harte
 Dylan Moran as Michael Fitzgerald 
 Isaach de Bankolé as Simon
 M. Emmet Walsh as The Writer, Gerald Ryan
 Marie-Josée Croze as Teresa
 Domhnall Gleeson as Freddie Joyce
 David Wilmot as Father Leary 
 Pat Shortt as Brendan Lynch
 Gary Lydon as Inspector Stanton
 Killian Scott as Milo Herlihy
 Orla O'Rourke as Veronica Brennan
 Owen Sharpe as Leo
 David McSavage as Bishop Garret Montgomery

Production

Development
McDonagh conceived the idea for Calvary and wrote the screenplay while filming The Guard with Gleeson in late 2009. McDonagh explained the intentions he had for the film: "There are probably films in development about priests which involve abuse. My remit is to do the opposite of what other people do, and I wanted to make a film about a good priest." He elaborates that it is tonally "in the same darkly comedic vein as The Guard, but with a much more serious and dramatic narrative." Gleeson's casting was announced in October 2011. The casting of Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly and Aidan Gillen was announced in February 2012, while further casting was announced in August 2012. Principal photography
Filming began on 24 September 2012. The production spent three weeks shooting in and around County Sligo primarily in the town of Easkey where the film is set and also on the Streedagh beach in north county Sligo, with some shooting in Ardgillan Castle Balbriggan Dublin followed by two weeks of filming in Rush, Dublin. Reception

Box office
Calvary had its world premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Fox Searchlight secured distribution rights for the US and select international territories. Calvary made its European premiere at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival and its Irish premiere as the gala opening of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival on 13 February 2014. The film earned $16.9 million worldwide. Critical response

Calvary received positive reviews from critics and has a "certified fresh" score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 158 reviews with an average rating of 7.6/10. The critical consensus states "Led by a brilliant performance from Brendan Gleeson, Calvary tackles weighty issues with humour, intelligence, and sensitivity." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 77 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews". Justin Chang of Variety magazine praised Gleeson for his soulful performance, called the film a "masterful follow-up to The Guard", and predicted near-certain critical plaudits at a distinguished arthouse reception for the film. Tim Griersen of Screen International also praised Gleeson for his performance and the film, calling it "A rich character drama that's equally eloquent and despairing, Calvary carries a weary resignation that feels lived-in and deeply considered." He cautions that the film might prove to be a hard sell as it examines religious faith and does not fit in an easily marketable genre. Xan Brooks of The Guardian comments on the self-referential nature of the film, and also calls the film "terrific (at least until the denouement, when it rather strains for grandeur)". Brooks gives the film 4/5. Praising Calvary for its treatment of its weighty thematic elements, Lauren Ely for First Things wrote: "Is it possible for a film to capture the horror of the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church while at the same time presenting a case for the necessity of the institutional priesthood? Against all odds, this is exactly what Irish director John Michael McDonagh's Calvary manages to do." In his review, the cultural commentator and Catholic bishop Robert Barron writes that the film "shows, with extraordinary vividness, what authentic spiritual shepherding looks like and how it feels for a priest to have a shepherd's heart." Xan Brooks in The Guardian compared it to a mysterious and surreal retelling of the Passion. Awards

References

External links

 
 
 
 

2014 drama films
2014 films
English-language Irish films
County Sligo in fiction
Entertainment One films
Films about Catholic priests
Films about child sexual abuse
Films about pedophilia
Films critical of the Catholic Church
Films directed by John Michael McDonagh
2014 independent films
Films set in Ireland
Films shot in the Republic of Ireland
Irish drama films
2010s English-language films