Priest

1995

1h 38m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

143

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32 Images

Drama

Romance

The deeply held religious convictions of an idealistic young priest are challenged when he must face extraordinary events within his own congregation.

Directors

Antonia Bird

Writers

Jimmy McGovern(writer by)

Stars

Linus Roache

Tom Wilkinson

Robert Carlyle

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Top cast

Linus Roache

Father Greg Pilkington

Tom Wilkinson

Father Matthew Thomas

Graham

Maria Kerrigan

Mrs. Unsworth

Mr. Unsworth

Lisa Unsworth

Father Ellerton

Tommy

Charlie

Bishop

Altar Boy

Ellie Molloy

Patrick

Mick Molloy

Housekeeper

Father Redstone

Guest at Wake

Directors

Antonia Bird

Writers

Jimmy McGovern(writer by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

“Fr. Greg” (Linus Roache) arrives at his new parish determined to look after the spiritual well-being of his flock in a more traditional sense than his fellow priest “Fr. Matthew” (Tom Wilkinson) who adopts a more user-friendly and free-thinking approach (especially with their housekeeper “Maria” (Cathy Tyson). Initially, there is a well-ordered conflict between the two men, but gradually an element of mutual respect creeps in which might prove useful for the new lad as it turns out that what he wears from the back of his wardrobe takes him into a life that isn’t exactly approved by his church. A meeting with “Graham” (Robert Carlyle) soon challenges his hitherto set-in-stone priorities and some subsequent police involvement leads to a reckoning with himself, his church and it’s congregation. Roache delivers well as his character has to try and reconcile his true self with that of his faith but I found Wilkinson to be the more impressive as a man who took a pragmatic view of teachings that hadn’t moved with the times, of hypocrisy, double-standards and naïveté. There’s also a rather disturbing sub-plot that gives us some indication of just how tough the job of being a confessor could be - and that’s well exemplified by the trio of Robert Pugh, Lesley Sharp and a poignant effort from Christine Tremarco as we head to a denouement that is quite thought-provoking in a 1990s where tolerance had little to do with legality, and where forgiveness, compassion and understanding could be in very short supply. It’s sparingly scripted, but there a few scenes where the punchy dialogue tests attitudes across the community and though it probably spends a little too long getting going, it’s cinema that rocks the boat a bit, and that’s a good thing.

Geronimo196701 Jun, 2025