Calvary (2014)

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

Director:

John Michael McDonagh

Writer:

John Michael McDonagh

Stars:

Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly

9 wins & 28 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brendan Gleeson	...	Father James
Chris O'Dowd	...	Jack Brennan
Kelly Reilly	...	Fiona Lavelle
Aidan Gillen	...	Dr. Frank Harte
Dylan Moran	...	Michael Fitzgerald
Isaach De Bankolé	...	Simon
M. Emmet Walsh	...	The Writer
Marie-Josée Croze	...	Teresa
Domhnall Gleeson	...	Freddie Joyce
David Wilmot	...	Father Leary
Pat Shortt	...	Brendan Lynch
Gary Lydon	...	Inspector Stanton
Killian Scott	...	Milo Herlihy
Orla O'Rourke	...	Veronica Brennan
Owen Sharpe	...	Leo

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

priest | death threat | confessional | catholic church | priest's daughter | 

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Taglines:

Killing a priest on a Sunday. That'll be a good one.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual references, language, brief strong violence and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

FOX Searchlight [United States] Official Facebook

Country:

Ireland UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 2014 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Calvario

Filming Locations:

Rush, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$956,273 (United Kingdom), 11 April 2014, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$74,149, 3 August 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,593,460, 10 October 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Screen Ireland, British Film Institute (BFI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer and Director John Michael McDonagh has cited 'Robert Bresson' as a major influence on the movie, but also Winter Light (1963) and also Robert De Niro's performance in True Confessions (1981).

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Quotes

Father James Lavelle: I've always felt there's something inherently psychopathic about joining the army in peace time, as far as I'm concerned people join the army to find out what its like to kill someone. I hardly think that's an inclination that should be encouraged in modern society, do you?

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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.

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Connections

References Zelig (1983)

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Soundtracks

Run Rabbit Run
Written by Noel Gay and Ralph T. Butler (as Ralph Butler)
Performed by Flanagan and Allen
Published by Chester Music Ltd
Courtesy of Pavilion Records Limited

User Reviews

about life's sense

brilliant dialogs, impressive atmosphere, high acting. a film who remembers, at different level, the country priest by Bernanos. in Irish frame, with a not so vulnerable priest, at first sigh.a film about sin, ordinary sin. and the fight against it like a Don Quixote battle. in fact, only an admirable portrait of a community. some drops from Dogvile, some references to Church crisis, bitter crumbs of humor and large circles of sadness. a film about sin. a really good one . and a great occasion for Brendan Gleeson to do a remarkable character. more than a religious movie, it is a reflection about life sense. in a precise, delicate, direct and touching manner. the images, the dialogs, the tension does it an useful demonstration about weakness and hope, about faith and need to help the other.