Complex and gripping (Doubt (DVD))

Member Name: byblox

Product:	Doubt (DVD)
Date:	07/06/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Involving

Disadvantages: May not appeal to everyone

Nominated for a host of awards including several Oscars, the film centres around the suspicion that a child in a Catholic school in 60's New York is being abused by a resident Priest.

Meryl Streep plays a fearsome nun who rules her school with a rod of iron, a woman who appears to have a heart of flint despite (or because of?) her calling. However, the children, school and the Church are her priorities, small touches of tenderness can be glimpsed through the sternness, she is formidable but human.

Her doubts about the conduct of the Priest (her superior due to his role and sex) are raised by a homily he delivers at Mass, she calls for her teaching sisters to be vigilant. One (Amy Adams) reports her observations, now the suspicions must be proved or discredited, but at what cost and to whom?

Perhaps timely due to the report into institutional abuse in Church schools and homes here in Ireland in the period depicted here, one of the findings of that report was that due to the hierarchy of the institutions, abuse was accepted and tolerated, a blind eye turned, shamefully any doubt was doubted until it was too late.

Interesting and complex, not at all as straightforward as some 'He did it, let's get him' scenario. Superb performances from a top notch cast. 104 minutes, rated PG, 2008.

Summary: Intelligent and timely