The Silence of the Church (TV Movie 2013)

The Silence of the Church (TV Movie 2013). 1h 40m

“After the popeu0026#39;s apologies ,this made-for-TV work could not have come at a better time.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn his car,a young man (Robinson Stevenin) hears a church choir he was formerly part of ,and it brings back memories,harrowing memories;when he was about 12 ,he had an angel voice which helped him join a secondary school where the elite studies ;the principal was a pleasant middle age man who fell in love with the boy and abused him.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story features numerous flashbacks ,which depicts the relationship with a great sense of decency ,from a u0026quot;pure friendshipu0026quot; to u0026quot;sexual relationsu0026quot;.Robin Renucci gives a superlative performance of a nice-looking priest ,all-smile,who passes for a saint to some parentsu0026#39; eyes. In an interview he insists he did not want to portray his character as a monster but as a priest committed to his work;the way he seduces (and in a way blackmails)his victim is terrifying (u0026quot;it will be our secret ,only God will know; you should not betray me,remember what Judas Iscariote did to our Lord;our love is sacred u0026quot;).Mister Renucci gives a subdued performance,but a very effective one:even a smile or a look can be scary.Robinson Stevenin,playing opposite such a veteran ,manages quite well in his portrayal of a young man whose past comes back to haunt him :we feel his shame when he confesses:u0026quot; I took pleasure when he fondled meu0026quot;.Anyway ,he was not the priestu0026#39;s first victim and one of the boys took his own life at 12.The movie insists that the bishop (who knew about his priestu0026#39;s tendencies)is also responsible for these horrors;hence the title u0026quot;the silence of the churchesu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA must-see.”