In the opening scene, a priest (Brendan Gleeson) hears a threatening confession. He spends the rest of the film interacting with members of his community (most of whom aren’t very devout or very nice) and preparing for his fate. The characters are intriguing and the actors playing them turn in compelling performances. The film’s sense of mystery combines with the priest’s complex moral perspective (and dashes of humor) to create a rich, absorbing experience. The outcome is so powerful that it ends in silence on screen and in the audience. (Criterion Cinema only.)

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