Aime et fais ce que tu veux

This well-acted, carefully directed Polish film is the story of Adam, a priest in a small rural town trying to repress his homosexuality as he helps a group of troubled teens to find their footing again. Adam has a good heart and is mostly disciplined, represented by his running which he refers to as "a prayer." Without every directly saying so, the film is an indictment of the celibacy thrust on anyone wanting to become a Catholic priest--and the cost of that celibacy--but more than this it is a film about needing love and, even more so, FEELING love that can't be expressed or pursued in a relentlessly homophobic environment. Adam's intermittent alcoholism reflects the cost of self-denial: his entire life seems like self-abnegation to try to squelch his desires--a hopeless and costly endeavor.

While Andrzej Chyra is excellent as Adam, it is Mateusz Kosciukiewicz as Lukasz who is a revelation here. Kosciukiewicz plays Lukasz as troubled and sensitive, taciturn and prone to outbursts--and we can readily understand why Adam is so drawn to him. It's a brilliant performance by Kosciukiewicz, layered and touching, one worth the whole price of admission.

If there are flaws in this film, they are directorial choices. There are too many scenes of the boys being violent and abusive; we got the picture the first time or two. When we finally get to the passion we know is in Adam and Lukasz, the camera is simply moving around too much, the scene too obfuscated in dim lighting. We need to feel these moments. Also, I'm going to guess that both actors are probably straight in real life. As talented as they both are, they never actually kiss in that scene: there would be very passionate kissing. Maybe they should have watched Brokeback Mountain to see how two 'straight' actors simply threw themselves into their scenes of passion.

We're left with certain questions at the end of In the Name Of--and that's fine--but the final scene is truly perplexing. Worth the watch. In many ways, a beuatiful film but not an easy one.

To say the least. The movie will not leave you completely after watching it. Whatever reaction it does create, it will stay with you. It's not an easy or light theme it takes on. Therefor it had to be careful. But it is not too careful. You have scenes that are explicit in its sexual nature (even if not completely graphic).

But it is the overall feeling this movie might leave you with and the moral choices the characters are taking. It is not easy to watch at all and you might understand the characters or you might start to hate some of them too. But I can't imagine anyone watching this, feeling nothing (even if its just disgust). The acting is really good and you get the feeling as if this is really happening (some might argue that it is close to some truth, which wouldn't be wrong I reckon). Tough but maybe still rewarding watch

I saw this film as part of the official Competition section of the Berlinale 2013. The theme at hand is very relevant in the context of child abuse as came to light in recent years, but there is more to it than that in this film. While the "children" in this film are nearly old enough to count as consensual adults, there is always the relationship between teacher and pupil to block any sort of romantic involvement. And there is the issue of celibacy for Roman Catholic priests. And if that is not enough, any intimacy between men and boys (whatever their age) is frowned upon by not only the church but also not accepted by the average man/woman in the street. The scenario contains elements of all these issues, mixed together in a believable story line.

As a bonus we see also the dilemmas that the church has to face when becoming aware that things are deviating from the official path. Our main character, priest Adam, has a proved track record of having a positive influence at all locations where he worked before. Nevertheless, there was always something going on, allegedly or not, that the church could not approve. And even when proving untrue rumors after all, it could have repercussions on their charitable work by the sheer suggestion alone. A transfer to a different place with the proverbial clean slate is then the next best thing the clerical hierarchy can do in their context, since dismissing him would be a loss for the social work that the church wants to continue at any price.

All of the above issues are intermixed in this film. That is done in such a way that one has difficulties to choose for either side, even for or against the church who is often maneuvered in a difficult position. And there is always some form of collateral damage due to suddenly broken relationships, deserving our pity as well. The perfect casting and superb acting carry this film and make into a believable piece of work. Having lived devoid of religious beliefs for the greater part of my life, I cannot follow in the footsteps of most of the characters in this film. And we should not forget this this happens in Poland, but even being from The Netherlands where I live, we know that their actions and beliefs are not extreme or otherwise unbelievable.

This is a very effective, very positive and yet oddly disturbing movie about the fitful coming out of a 40ish gay priest in Poland. His name is Adam, and he looks nothing like a priest except while on duty. He's always known he's gay, but he's serious about his vocation and has stayed closeted in order to keep his vows of celibacy.

He has a special gift for helping troubled teenage boys, which his superiors value greatly. His homosexuality has never led to anything remotely inappropriate with a boy (or with a man, for that matter), but he is periodically transferred in order to keep even rumors from interfering with his very valuable ministry. Most recently he was moved from Warsaw to an isolated rural parish with a small work-home for boys on furlough from reformatories.

This is a complex movie, and trying to summarize its plot would be a disservice. It is not predictable, not typical of gay movies, of priest movies, or of any other sort of movies I can think of. It's not the story of a type of man but of THIS man. So, like any real human being, Adam is more complicated than a normal movie character, and the director does not try to make him easy to understand.

In part because it's NOT predictable, this movie is fascinating to watch, and the end is especially satisfying. The movie is disturbing not because of anything that happens, but because everyone and everything in it looks dirty.

I know that sounds superficial, but sometimes the most superficial things in life are the most distressing. Even after bathing, the characters look grimy, everything indoors is dingy, and outdoors is nothing but dust. I don't know if rural Poland really is as miserable as this movie makes it appear, or if the director was intentionally creating a disturbing ambiance for the movie.

Although it's disturbing, that ambiance adds to the complexity of the movie and enhances its effectiveness. I watched it twice; it was richer and even more satisfying the second time.

The film is a bit slow, with less action and even less dialogue ... However, it is a great film because it manages to evoke the maximum frustration that a Catholic priest has to face, leaving aside the work he does, unfolds is also a MAN and that every man needs to love and feel loved, to hug and be hugged in turn, to communicate about his joys, needs, feelings and pains ... From what I understand, life is a nightmare for these Catholic priests, because they are forbidden to lead a normal life.