Our Fathers (2005) (TV)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Dan Curtis

Writers (WGA):

David France (book)
Thomas Michael Donnelly (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 May 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The catholic church in an age of scandal.

Plot:

A dramatized account of the hidden sexual abuse and scandal that shook the foundation of the Catholic Church, and the characters, events, and policies that brought the abuse and scandal into existence.

Plot Keywords:

Cardinal | Priest | Scandal | Catholic Church | Catholic

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Ted Danson	...	Mitchell Garabedian
Christopher Plummer	...	Cardinal Bernard Law
Brian Dennehy	...	Father Dominic Spagnolia
Daniel Baldwin	...	Angelo DeFranco
Ellen Burstyn	...	Mary Ryan
Kenneth Welsh	...	Bishop Murphy
Will Lyman	...	Wilson Rogers Jr.
Wayne Best	...	Father Doyle
Colin Fox	...	Daniel Kibbe
James Oliver	...	Patrick McSorley
Jan Rubes	...	Pope John Paul
Steven Shaw	...	John J. Geoghan
Damien Atkins	...	Young Geoghan
Hugh Thompson	...	Tom Blanchette
Aidan Devine	...	Bernie McDaid

MPAA:

Rated R for language, including some graphic depictions of sexual abuse.

Runtime:

USA:130 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Finland:K-11

Company:

Dan Curtis Productions

Quotes:

Angelo DeFranco: Why did this happen to me?

Our Fathers

This is a fine film that depicts the Catholic Church in a age of crisis and scandal. The casting and acting was first rate. The director could've easily painted a portrait that would've had a blatant anti-Catholic strain to it but instead chose an aura of sadness and compassion. Perhaps this leads, external of the film, to a cathartic redemption.

I am waiting for a similar film involving scientists and their use of psycho-subliminal weaponry and related technology and the secret abduction of unknowing People for purposes of torture and various levels of R&D. This fact, not unlike the current condition of the U.S. Catholic clergy, is embroiled in sickening secrecy and depraved indifference. Outfits like SAIC, with their legion of predators 40000 strong, would be like an Archdioses and NASA would be like the Vatican. Clearly the semi-sympathetic tone on "Our Fathers" would be almost impossible to convey in "Our Scientists" whose crimes against Humanity are far greater than any of the sins of the Catholic Church.