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Calvary

  • 20142014
  • RR
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
59K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Brendan Gleeson in Calvary (2014)
Father James is a good priest who is faced with sinister and troubling circumstances brought about by a mysterious member of his parish. Although he continues to comfort his own fragile daughter and reach out to help members of his church with their various scurrilous moralâ€â€�and often comicâ€â€�problems, he feels sinister forces closing in, and begins to wonder if he will have the courage to face his own personal Calvary.
Play trailer2:21
5 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery

After he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him.After he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him.After he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
59K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Michael McDonagh
  • Writer
    • John Michael McDonagh
  • Stars
    • Brendan Gleeson
    • Chris O'Dowd
    • Kelly Reilly
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Michael McDonagh
  • Writer
    • John Michael McDonagh
  • Stars
    • Brendan Gleeson
    • Chris O'Dowd
    • Kelly Reilly
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 216User reviews
    • 293Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 32 nominations

    Videos5

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Official Trailer
    UK Trailer
    Trailer 2:13
    UK Trailer
    Calvary
    Clip 0:55
    Calvary
    Calvary
    Clip 1:27
    Calvary
    Calvary
    Featurette 4:23
    Calvary

    Photos113

    Aidan Gillen and Brendan Gleeson in Calvary (2014)
    Kelly Reilly in Calvary (2014)
    Brendan Gleeson in Calvary (2014)
    Brendan Gleeson and Orla O'Rourke in Calvary (2014)
    Brendan Gleeson and Chris O'Dowd in Calvary (2014)
    Brendan Gleeson and Kelly Reilly in Calvary (2014)
    Kelly Reilly at an event for Calvary (2014)
    Kelly Reilly at an event for Calvary (2014)
    Kelly Reilly at an event for Calvary (2014)
    Kelly Reilly at an event for Calvary (2014)
    Kelly Reilly and Chris O'Dowd at an event for Calvary (2014)
    Isaach De Bankolé at an event for Calvary (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brendan Gleeson
    Brendan Gleeson
    • Father Jamesas Father James
    Chris O'Dowd
    Chris O'Dowd
    • Jack Brennanas Jack Brennan
    Kelly Reilly
    Kelly Reilly
    • Fiona Lavelleas Fiona Lavelle
    Aidan Gillen
    Aidan Gillen
    • Dr. Frank Harteas Dr. Frank Harte
    Dylan Moran
    Dylan Moran
    • Michael Fitzgeraldas Michael Fitzgerald
    Isaach De Bankolé
    Isaach De Bankolé
    • Simonas Simon
    M. Emmet Walsh
    M. Emmet Walsh
    • The Writeras The Writer
    Marie-Josée Croze
    Marie-Josée Croze
    • Teresaas Teresa
    Domhnall Gleeson
    Domhnall Gleeson
    • Freddie Joyceas Freddie Joyce
    David Wilmot
    David Wilmot
    • Father Learyas Father Leary
    Pat Shortt
    Pat Shortt
    • Brendan Lynchas Brendan Lynch
    Gary Lydon
    • Inspector Stantonas Inspector Stanton
    Killian Scott
    Killian Scott
    • Milo Herlihyas Milo Herlihy
    Orla O'Rourke
    Orla O'Rourke
    • Veronica Brennanas Veronica Brennan
    Owen Sharpe
    Owen Sharpe
    • Leoas Leo
    David McSavage
    David McSavage
    • Bishop Garret Montgomeryas Bishop Garret Montgomery
    Mícheál Óg Lane
    Mícheál Óg Lane
    • Mícheálas Mícheál
    Mark O'Halloran
    Mark O'Halloran
    • Prison Officeras Prison Officer
    • Director
      • John Michael McDonagh
    • Writer
      • John Michael McDonagh
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Father James is a small-town priest in Ireland whose Sunday confessionals suddenly include a threat to kill him in a week's time as a matter of principle. Deeply troubled and conflicted about how to respond, Father James tries to go on with his calling through that week. However, that proves impossible as he is confronted with a troubling variety of spiritual challenges from both his estranged daughter and his own parishioners. In those dispiriting struggles, Father James' life begins to fall apart as time runs out towards a confrontation that seems to crystallize his values and what he wants his life to be. —Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
    • priest
    • death threat
    • confessional
    • catholic church
    • priest's daughter
    • 50 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Killing a priest on a Sunday. That'll be a good one.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for sexual references, language, brief strong violence and some drug use
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The role of Freddie Joyce is played by Brendan Gleeson's real-life son Domhnall Gleeson. The two actors share only one scene together.
    • Goofs
      As Father James drives to the airport, we see that his mirror is reflecting an entirely different image than the environment surrounding him.
    • Quotes

      Jack Brennan: I think she's bipolar, or lactose intolerant, one of the two.

    • Crazy credits
      The closing credits are inter-cut with empty shots of every main location that Father James Lavelle and his daughter Fiona had a significant conversation in.
    • Connections
      Featured in Film '72: Episode dated 5 March 2014 (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      The Dolphins
      Written and Performed by Fred Neil

      Published by BMG Rights Management Ltd

      Licensed Courtesy of EMI Records LTD

    User reviews216

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Surprisingly Far-Reaching
    At the end of the film I reflected that this was a far bigger film that I had been expecting. The issues explored in the film really do come together at the end. The credits roll silently and I noticed that the full cinema was very quiet and remained so for a much longer time than usual.

    The problems in the Catholic church have had repercussions and this parish in Sligo is losing its faith. This loss of faith is portrayed very vividly, it is expressed more strongly than in reality I think.

    The film revolves around the character of Father James Lavelle played powerfully by Brendan Gleeson. As Father James visits his parishioners there is much humour, often quite dark. The script has many choice lines. A man arrives to give a lift to a female parishioner who has been sexually promiscuous and she says "here is my ride".

    Father James Lavelle is a likable priest, grappling with applying the church's teachings in the modern world. It is a thankless task and always his objective is undermined by the failures of the church itself. Father James's character is contrasted with that of a younger priest he shares the parish with (David Wilmot). The younger priest is very much part of the institution of the church and his loyal naïvety is humorous and infuriating.

    Father James' life is threatened at the beginning, but this film is not a detective story, it is not Father Brown. Father James knows who threatened him but we the audience are not let in on the secret. The logic behind the threat is described ingeniously as events in the film come to a head at the end.
    helpful•71
    17
    • pj-bus
    • Apr 13, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 11, 2014 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • Ireland
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • FOX Searchlight (United States)
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Niềm Đau
    • Filming locations
      • Strandhill, County Sligo, Ireland
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • Screen Ireland
      • British Film Institute (BFI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,600,006
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $74,149
      • Aug 3, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,887,741
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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