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Priest

Play trailer Poster for Priest R,  1995,  1h 37m,  Drama/ LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 67% 24 Reviews Tomatometer 83% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
The Rev. Greg Pilkington (Linus Roache) is homosexual and a Roman Catholic priest who takes his vows and his love of God seriously. When a young girl confesses to him that her father has been sexually abusing her, Pilkington is overcome with protective rage and feels that he must break the secrecy rules binding the confessional in order to stop the abuse. As the case haunts him, Pilkington is forced to confront the transgression of his lack of celibacy through sex with other men.
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Priest

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Critics Consensus

A deft directorial debut from Antonia Bird, Priest handles its sensitive subject with care -- despite certain sanctimonious sentiments.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Jun 7, 2022
2/4
It’s as if we were being administered a series of rude slaps. Go to Full Review
David Ansen Newsweek Feb 16, 2018
Priest shouldn't be missed -- much of it is strong and moving. My reservation is not that it bites off more than it can chew (these days, big teeth are welcome) but that there's something mechanical about its mastication. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
1/4
The unexamined assumptions in the Priest screenplay are shallow and exploitative. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Nov 17, 2025
4/5
…Jimmy McGovern and Antonia Bird's Priest is a striking and powerful story about faith, religion and child abuse…well acted, thought-provoking and provocative… Go to Full Review
Sheila Reid Women in the Life May 13, 2022
A slow-moving but captivating look into the soul of a young, sensitive Catholic priest. Go to Full Review
Quentin Crisp Christopher Street Apr 21, 2022
All this is such a pity, because Priest could have been such a good and important film. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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George S Jun 23, 2018 The film I went to see the most amount of times when it was in cinemas. Beautiful writing/filmmaking that breaks my heart every time. See more
Anakin R Mar 14, 2008 11/15/2017 To this day, this is still the most controversial film I've ever seen. It tackles the rigid vows of priesthood and relative morality. Linus Roache took on the controversial lead quite convincingly and the last scene is also one of the most heartbreaking scenes I've ever seen. See more
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Priest

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Antonia Bird

Director

Linus Roache

Father Greg Pilkington

Tom Wilkinson

Father Matthew Thomas

Cathy Tyson

Maria Kerrigan

James Ellis

Father Ellerton

Robert Carlyle

Graham

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Priest

Priest (1994) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The Rev. Greg Pilkington (Linus Roache) is homosexual and a Roman Catholic priest who takes his vows and his love of God seriously. When a young girl confesses to him that her father has been sexually abusing her, Pilkington is overcome with protective rage and feels that he must break the secrecy rules binding the confessional in order to stop the abuse. As the case haunts him, Pilkington is forced to confront the transgression of his lack of celibacy through sex with other men.
Director
Antonia Bird
Producer
George Faber, Josephine Ward
Screenwriter
Jimmy McGovern
Distributor
Miramax Home Entertainment [us], Miramax Films
Production Co
Miramax Films, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 24, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.8M
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR
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