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Polish director Malgoska Szumowska’s follow-up to Elles is a more modest but sometimes muddled tale of a gay priest torn by desire.
Andrzej Chyra brings quiet depths to Father Adam, whose feelings for a young man in his rural flock drive him to drink.
Emotional meltdowns and elliptical narrative leaps follow, leaving plot and tone wobbling.
In more restrained moments, Szumowska’s take on familiar material is sure, sensitive and judiciously shot by DoP Michal Englert, whose sometimes rapturous but rough ‘n’ ready visuals juggle the sacred and the profane.
Kevin Harley is a freelance journalist with bylines at Total Film, Radio Times, The List, and others, specializing in film and music coverage. He can most commonly be found writing movie reviews and previews at 12DOVE.