Clergy
Three Polish priests confronting private weakness, public scandal, and ecclesiastical power become unwilling mirrors of the institution they serve.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- sardonic
- uncomfortable
- topical
- serious movie night
- political discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an ambitious, topical, and unflinching Polish drama that provokes debate through its mixture of satire and difficult subject matter, despite thin characterization and an overextended, occasionally confusing plot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The three priests' compromised personal lives and Archbishop Mordowicz's political maneuvering expose a gap between Catholic ideals and clerical behavior.
Mordowicz uses political connections and luxury to pursue the construction of Poland's largest sanctuary.
Lisowski, Trybus, and Kukula begin with distinct parish and diocesan lives before their stories merge again.
The reception describes the film as amusing and shocking while its plot confronts difficult issues without softening them.
Films like Clergy, and why
Spotlight
socially critical drama exposing institutional hypocrisy through interconnected characters
The Death of Stalin
darkly satirical drama examining corruption and moral compromise within a powerful institution
The Square
ensemble drama using personal failings to critique entrenched social and political systems
Movie Details
- Director
- Wojtek Smarzowski
- Release Date
- 2018-09-28
- Runtime
- 133 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (202)
Cast
- Arkadiusz Jakubik
- Robert Więckiewicz
- Jacek Braciak
- Janusz Gajos
- Joanna Kulig
- Adrian Zaremba
- Magdalena Celówna-Janikowska
- Ignacy Klim
- Michał Gadomski
- Katarzyna Chlebny
Common questions
- What is Clergy about?
- Three Polish priests confronting private weakness, public scandal, and ecclesiastical power become unwilling mirrors of the institution they serve.
- What is Clergy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Clergy as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Clergy violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Clergy as mild.
- What did critics think of Clergy?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an ambitious, topical, and unflinching Polish drama that provokes debate through its mixture of satire and difficult subject matter, despite thin characterization and an overextended, occasionally confusing plot.
- Which films are like Clergy?
- Films with a similar feel include Spotlight, The Death of Stalin, and The Square.
- How long is Clergy?
- Clergy runs 133 minutes.
