The crime of Padre Amaro is a controversial movie of Carlos Carrera which is based on a novel during the 19th century, a story about a newly ordained priest who committed a serious sin.
The film started when a newly ordained priest, Padre Amaro, arrived in the small town of Los Reyes. Padre Amaro will serve as a protégée of the local priest, Padre Benito. Padre Benito, a ruthless political bishop happens to have an affair with a restaurant owner, Sanjuanera.
On the other hand, another priest in the area, Padre Natalio, is under investigation for supporting a leftist group in his area. While Padre Natalio is fighting for the right of his people, Padre Benito on the other hand is building a large hospital and recuperation centre which is financed by the local drug lords in the local area.
Meanwhile, Padre Amaro was continuously challenged by pressure, societal problems, and celibacy. Padre Amaro was infatuated to Amelia, the daughter of Sanjuanera and also teaches catechism to the children in their town. What happened to Padre Amaro and Amelia somehow became a repetition as to what had happened to Padre Benito and Sanjuanera. But as Padre Amaro committed a sin, it somehow multiplied for the reason that Amelia got pregnant and they even decided to abort the child which led to the untimely death of young Amelia.
Seeing this movie, it somehow became an insult to the Catholic Church. That’s why it’s no surprise when I read that before this movie was released, various religious groups tried to stop the film from being screened.
Padre Amaro himself symbolized the sin of celibacy, lust and untruthfulness. He let lust overpower him. He had a premarital sex with the sixteen-year-old Amelia and kept it as a secret. He was even the one who wanted the abortion in the first place which took the life of Amelia. And lastly, when Amelia died, he was still very irresponsible and even laid all the blame to Ruben, Amelia’s former boyfriend.
Another thing that I noticed in the movie is when Padre Amaro dressed Amelia in a Vail. He said that Amelia was as beautiful and pure as the Virgin Mary. I find this scene a bit ironic, ironic in a sense that he compared Amelia, a sixteen-year-old girl who already engaged in premarital sex, to the Virgin Mary. Furthermore, on that said scene they were about to engage in yet another sex.
On the other hand, Gethsemane, the girl who had schizophrenia, was the only one who witnessed how Padre Amaro and Amelia committed the sin. Yet, because of her illness, she can’t tell the truth and shout to the people how sinful the priest is. Padre Benito on the other hand also knows the truth but couldn’t say it all to people for he himself is also guilty of the same sin. He was also blackmailed by Padre Amaro. Both of them somehow symbolized the people, in reality, out there who can’t tell the truth no matter how they would want it. People like these usually face different problems that hinder them from telling the truth.
On the latter part of the movie, when Amelia was dying, the ray of the sun somehow symbolized the death of the girl.
As a whole, although the movie was a bit disturbing, I can say that it was still great. Films like these somehow served as an eye-opener to the reality in life. That nobody is perfect to be able to resist from sin. That even a priest could commit celibacy, lust, and even corruption.
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