Overview
A young priest grapples with temptation and corruption in a small Mexican town.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- provocative
- melodramatic
- tense
- arthouse cinema night
- social issue film discussion
What critics said
Critics generally found the film's critique of the Catholic Church timely and provocative, though melodramatic in execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The parish clergy accept drug-lord money, conceal affairs, and confront accusations of political complicity.
Amaro's priestly vocation collides with his passionate sexual relationship with Amelia.
The small parish community connects Catholic authority with drug trafficking, guerrilla activity, pregnancy, and public controversy.
Amaro is repeatedly torn between the divine and the carnal, while other clergy embody similar contradictions.
Films like The Crime of Padre Amaro, and why
Spotlight
shared critique of institutional religion, morally compromised clergy, and provocative social drama
The Magdalene Sisters
shared themes of forbidden desire, religious hypocrisy, and oppressive moral institutions
The Official Story
shared latin american social realism, political corruption, and conflicted religious authority
Movie Details
- Director
- Carlos Carrera
- Release Date
- 2002-10-01
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (314)
Cast
- Gael García Bernal
- Ana Claudia Talancón
- Sancho Gracia
- Angélica Aragón
- Luisa Huertas
- Ernesto Gómez Cruz
- Gastón Melo
- Damián Alcázar
- Andrés Montiel
- Gerardo Moscoso
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Crime of Padre Amaro about?
- A newly ordained Mexican priest is pulled between his vows, a forbidden love, and a parish where faith is entangled with corruption.
- What is The Crime of Padre Amaro like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Crime of Padre Amaro as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Crime of Padre Amaro violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Crime of Padre Amaro as mild.
- What did critics think of The Crime of Padre Amaro?
- Critics generally found the film's critique of the Catholic Church timely and provocative, though melodramatic in execution.
- Which films are like The Crime of Padre Amaro?
- Films with a similar feel include Spotlight, The Magdalene Sisters, and The Official Story.
- How long is The Crime of Padre Amaro?
- The Crime of Padre Amaro runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Crime of Padre Amaro?
- In United States, The Crime of Padre Amaro streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
