This is a documentary feature about Father Oliver O'Grady, a catholic priest, who was charged for various cases of pedophile in US around 1970 and the attempt by the church to cover up his rape of several children. Moving from one parish to another in Northern California during the 1970s, Father Oliver O'Grady quickly won each congregation's trust and respect. Unbeknownst to them, O'Grady was a dangerously active pedophile that Church hierarchy, aware of his predilection, had harbored for over 30 years, allowing him to abuse countless children. Juxtaposing an extended, deeply unsettling interview with O'Grady himself with the tragic stories of his victims, both young girls and boys, filmmaker bravely exposes the deep corruption of the Catholic Church and the troubled mind of the man they sheltered.
I am sure many will never take the opportunity to see this film thinking it biased toward the church. Although it will be a painful experience for devoted catholics it is mandatory that they be aware of the deception of their prelates in the cover-up of clergy sexual abuse. The sight of a sixty year old man, with a deep bellowing voice, weep in anguish at the pain his daughter went through and the deception the whole family experienced: this touched me deeply.
This one is a documentary and should be watched like one. The film is an important contribution to bringing the problems of child sexual abuse to light, and for that, the film's makers and participants need to be applauded.
(5/10)
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