It was 2002. Outside Mexican cinemas, protesters were screaming. They were clutching rosaries, holding up signs of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and trying—desperately—to stop people from entering the theater. Why? Because a young Gael García Bernal was playing a priest who breaks every vow he ever took. If you decide to watch El Crimen del Padre Amaro, you aren't just seeing a movie; you're stepping into a piece of cultural warfare that nearly broke the Mexican box office and definitely pissed off the Vatican.
Honestly, the film shouldn't have been a surprise. It’s based on an 1875 novel by the Portuguese writer José Maria de Eça de Queirós. But Carlos Carrera, the director, moved the setting to modern-day Los Reyes, Mexico. Suddenly, the 19th-century critique of the Church felt uncomfortably present. It wasn't just about a priest having an affair. It was about money laundering for drug cartels, illegal abortions, and the sheer, crushing weight of institutional corruption. It’s heavy stuff.
The Plot That Sent Shockwaves Through the Church
Father Amaro is 24. He’s handsome, ambitious, and basically the "golden boy" of the local Bishop. When he’s sent to a small rural parish to help the aging Father Benito, he thinks he’s on the fast track to a high-ranking career in Rome. But Los Reyes is a mess.
He quickly discovers that Father Benito is sleeping with a local woman who runs a restaurant. Then there’s Father Natalio, a "pro-poor" priest who is basically flirting with Marxist revolution and helping the local guerrillas. Amaro is caught in the middle. But the real kicker? He meets Amelia. She’s young, she’s deeply religious, and she’s played by Ana Claudia Talancón. Their chemistry isn't just "movie magic"—it feels dangerous because, in the context of their world, it is.
The film doesn't treat their romance like a Disney movie. It’s messy. When Amelia gets pregnant, the "holy" Father Amaro doesn't step up. He protects his career. He protects the institution. That’s the real "crime" the title refers to. It’s not just the sex; it’s the betrayal of a human soul to keep a collar clean.
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Why the Controversy Actually Helped the Film
You can't talk about this movie without talking about the backlash. The Provida group in Mexico tried to get the government to ban it. They failed. In fact, their protests acted like a multi-million dollar marketing campaign. Everyone wanted to see what the fuss was about.
- Box Office Gold: It became the highest-grossing Mexican film ever at the time.
- Award Recognition: It nabbed an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
- Political Timing: Mexico was undergoing a massive political shift after 71 years of one-party rule. People were ready to question old authorities.
The Church’s reaction was intense. Some bishops threatened to excommunicate anyone who watched it. But guess what? People went anyway. They went in droves. Because the film captured a specific kind of Mexican hypocrisy that everyone knew existed but no one talked about on the big screen.
Breaking Down the "Crime" Beyond the Bedroom
When you finally sit down to watch El Crimen del Padre Amaro, look past the romance. The subplots are where the real grit lives. Father Benito’s relationship with the local drug kingpin, "El Chato," is a direct jab at the rumored ties between the clergy and narcos in rural Mexico. The film suggests that the Church’s survival depends on looking the other way while "dirty" money builds new clinics and steeples.
Then there’s the character of the Bishop. He’s a politician in a robe. He doesn't care about Father Benito’s sins as long as they stay quiet. He doesn't care about the poor as long as they don't revolt. He is the personification of the "Institutional Church." Amaro learns from him. He learns that in this world, appearance is everything and truth is a liability.
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Does it Hold Up Today?
Sorta. Some of the digital cinematography feels a bit "early 2000s," and the pacing can be a little melodramatic. It’s basically a high-budget telenovela with a soul and a political agenda. But Gael García Bernal is magnetic. You can see why he became an international star. He plays Amaro not as a villain, but as a weak man who chooses power over love. That’s a timeless story.
Also, the themes haven't aged a day. Corruption in the Church is still a headline-maker. The tension between liberation theology (represented by Father Natalio) and the conservative hierarchy is still a thing. If you’re a fan of films like Spotlight or The Two Popes, you’ll find this to be a much more cynical, visceral cousin to those stories.
Practical Tips for Viewing
Finding where to watch El Crimen del Padre Amaro depends on your region, but it’s frequently available on platforms like Amazon Prime, Apple TV, or specialized Latino cinema hubs like Pantaya.
- Check the Subtitles: If you don't speak Spanish, make sure you have good subtitles. The slang used by the characters in Los Reyes adds a lot of flavor to their personalities.
- Context is Key: Before watching, do a quick five-minute read on "Liberation Theology." It makes Father Natalio’s storyline way more interesting.
- The Novel: If you’re a book nerd, read Eça de Queirós’ original book. It’s even more biting and cynical than the movie.
Final Insights for the Modern Viewer
Don't go into this expecting a horror movie or a standard "forbidden love" trope. It’s a tragedy about the loss of innocence—not just Amelia’s, but Amaro’s. He starts the movie with a hint of genuine faith and ends it as a cold-blooded bureaucrat.
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The film's ending is one of the most haunting in Latin American cinema. There’s no big explosion, no dramatic confession. Just a lie. A big, fat, institutional lie that everyone accepts because it’s easier than facing the truth.
Next Steps for Your Movie Night:
If you’ve already seen it, or once you finish, check out Carlos Carrera’s other work, particularly his animation. He has a very dark, surrealist streak that explains why Padre Amaro feels so bleak. Also, compare this film to Y Tu Mamá También, which came out around the same time. Both films used Gael García Bernal to deconstruct different parts of the Mexican identity—one focused on the sexual awakening of the youth, the other on the moral decay of the pillars of society.
To get the most out of the experience, watch it with someone who grew up in a religious environment. The conversations you’ll have afterward about guilt, authority, and the "greater good" are usually better than the movie itself.
Actionable Insight: If you're looking for the film on streaming services, search for the English title The Crime of Father Amaro if the Spanish title doesn't yield results. Most major VOD platforms carry the remastered version which handles the dark, low-light parish scenes much better than the original DVD releases from the early 2000s.