THE CRIME OF FATHER AMARO (2003) Based on an 1875 novel but set in present-day Mexico, director Carlos Carrera's best-foreign-film Oscar nominee is a potent drama about a seemingly saintly priest…
Video Review

THE CRIME OF FATHER AMARO (2003)

MPAA Rating: R
Reviewed by William Stevenson | May 02, 2003
EW's GRADE
B

Details Release Date: Apr 22, 2003; Movie Rated: R; Genres: Drama, Foreign Language; With: Gael García Bernal; Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Based on an 1875 novel but set in present-day Mexico, director Carlos Carrera's best-foreign-film Oscar nominee is a potent drama about a seemingly saintly priest (Y Tu Mama Tambien's Bernal) who has a torrid affair with a 16-year-old parishioner (Talancon). Since the actress is even prettier than Bernal, it's not hard to imagine that a young priest would have trouble resisting her. Crime borders on soap opera, and like most sudsers it occasionally drags, but Bernal's performance is as stirring as a good sermon -- and a whole lot sexier.

Originally posted May 02, 2003 Published in issue #708 May 02, 2003 Order article reprints