Dark comedies don’t come much more pitch black than Calvary, the new film that re-teams actor Brendan Gleeson with director John Michael McDonagh (The Guard). Like their previous collaboration, in between some off-color humor there’s some thoughtful rumination on mortality and the meaning of life.
From the opening moments, Father James (Brendan Gleeson) finds himself in an awful predicament. An unidentified parishioner in confession tells the priest to get his personal affairs in order… he plans on murdering James at the end of the week. The priest is being targeted not for anything he has done, but because he is such a good man that his death will cause greater ripples in the community.
For the religious leader of this small Irish town, the next step is more difficult than anticipated. He must grapple with whether or not the threat is a serious one and if he should tell the authorities. Additionally, the reverend must continue his duties mentoring a younger priest and serving his unappreciative community – most of the residents are nasty, vice-ridden and confrontational. Most importantly, he attempts to repair his relationship with his estranged and suicidal daughter, Fiona (Kelly Reilly).
As the supporting characters are introduced and examined, it initially came across as a film about seven deadly sins – many of the characters exhibit traits including greed, lust, envy and wrath (among many others). Yet it becomes clear after some time that this is really a tale about a priest reconnecting with his daughter and facing his fears, including the possibility of death itself. He does seem to go through several stages that mirror the well-known five stages of loss and grief.
Keeping the identity of the potential killer unknown is a clever move on the part of the writer/director. The screenplay manages to work itself into a mystery film of sorts as the priest speaks to each potential suspect and salvage some sort of understanding with them. It’s a very strong supporting cast that includes Dylan Moran, Chris O’Dowd, Aidan Gillen, M. Emmet Walsh and Isaach De Bankole.
The themes are so dark and heavy that it might all be too grim to watch, but Gleeson’s performance is an incredible one that keeps us engaged. Additionally, the writing is very powerful… these characters all have strong voices and even when the events occurring are upsetting, there’s a constant current of biting black humor that relieves some of the ugliness. This results in a couple of good laughs and conversations that go on witty and unexpected tangents even in the darkest of moments.
Calvary is a small, arthouse film with some fantastic writing and exceptional work from its cast. The themes seem very overtly specific to the Catholic faith (in particular when the lead grapples with issues of suffering and self-sacrifice). It doesn’t provide easy answers to the questions raised. However, it is a well-mounted, intriguing and thought-provoking effort sure to impress those looking for headier summer entertainment.