Anyone else see the movie "Doubt"? *spoilers*

[CoffeeCat]

I watched it last night and I thought it was quite interesting.

The ending was not handed to us on a silver plate and there wasn't total closure.

However, it seemed obvious to me that Father Flynn did molest that boy. I also
thought Sister A's "doubt" in the final scene was entirely about her faith, not
about the guilt or innocence of Father Flynn. After all, she had just told
the Church hierarchy that she suspected Father Flynn of sexually abusing a child--and
the not only moved him into another parish but the promoted him.

I'd love to hear others' thoughts as well...

[knowbody0]

1. not at all what I expected....

a haunting ending, but true reality for the church. I am glad I watched.

[NV Whino]

2. I saw it recently

I thought the story was good but didn't survive the transition from stage to screen. A good cast but reeeealy bad direction.

I liked that it left you up in the air. Did he or didn't he. Could be either. Certainly the church's reaction (relocation and promotion) is indicative of what the church has done with known molesters. And the scenes with the Father's cronies only emphasize the good old (Catholic) boys network.

As for Sister A, I think she was doubting herself not her faith.

[Donnachaidh]

3. okay -- have to ask, HOW was it *obvious* that he had molested him?

I watched the movie a while back, and came away with the thought that he hadn't done it. To me, it seemed more that the nun was dead set about labeling him, without proof. I'll have to re-watch it, but I'd sure like to know where you saw something I didn't.

FWIW, Meryl Streep's character gave me wicked flashbacks to Catholic School. She reminded me so much of the *resident hellion* who taught us in fourth grade I actually had nightmares.

[dustbunnie]

4. ***MORE SPOILER MATERIAL***

The play makes it obvious that the Father did molest the boy. Plus the author said in an interview that the play was partly inspired by the experience of a relative who had been abused in such a manner.

I really enjoyed the flick. Thought the acting was very compelling and the sub-plot concerning the boy's mother and her wishes that he succeed "no matter what" was sad, but could understand her position. And yes, based on the above info, it seems that the Sister's doubt was about faith in the all-male hierarchy.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. We watched it the night after we saw The Reader.

If Frost/Nixon and The Reader were what we would call great, I thought Doubt was very, very good - a "smaller" movie than the other two; a bit less developed. I agree with your views on the movie content. Meryl Streep always blows us away with her quality acting.

[southernyankeebelle]

6. =I Did =

I didn't like the ending. Now I guess the movie made us all wonder if he did molest the boy. I didn't think he did molest the boy. I felt he left because he wanted to preserve himself from the witch hunt that the mother superior was after him with no proof. I didn't think he did anything. So I guess the movie did its job huh? You believe he did it and I believe he didn't.

[Fresh_Start]

7. I also thought he had molested the boy

based on the priest's reaction when the sister said she had spoken to the sisters at his last parish.
His reaction to her speaking to other sisters about she didn't go through the right channels, she's only allowed to talk to the Priest and not to her fellow sisters, made it feel like a coverup was already in motion.

The mothers reaction when asked if something inappropriate had gone on, likewise seemed to indicate that there was inappropriate contact, but the mother was accepting of it because it was the way of the world.

[donco6]

8. Hated it.

I couldn't stand Streep's character. Too much like the Catholic school I went to. I swear I could smell the chalkboards in that movie.