Molokai: The Story of Father Damien

We rented the movie this evening after spending today touring the tip of Molokai, Hawaii where this story took place. The movie is an excellent supplement for the tour. Richard Marks, our tour guide, did not tell us that he appears in many scenes throughout the movie. He is the tall man who has his feet wrapped in cloth in many scenes. He told us that the movie existed and some background stories about the movie.

Anyone wishing to tour this beautiful site should make sure, in advance, that Richard will be their guide. He is an excellent guide and also one of the people who has Hansen's Disease. He is 72 years old (2002) and a dynamic person.

This was a magnificent film. I had heard that there were some creative differences between director Paul Cox and other people involved in the film.

But this does not seem to affect the film in total. I found it a very moving uplifting film that presents the best the human species can aspire to. Like Mother Teresa and Gandhi Father Damian was probably a pain in the rear to the authorities civil and religious.

But that is the way of people who are so sure of their beliefs.

David Wenham, who is well known to Australian audiences, showed yet again what a talented actor he is.

The international actors who provided cameo roles were all excellent, particularly Peter O'Toole.

I've enjoyed Paul Cox's films many times over the years. They often win awards but are rarely major box office winners, But he has the ability to present the best of the human experience. He portrays real emotions and real people.

While I hate schmaltzy inspirational films, I must say that "Molokai: The Story of Father Damien" doesn't fall into that category. Sure, it is inspirational...but there is no schmaltz...just the true story of an amazing man.

The film is set in Hawaii during the 19th century. Leprosy has hit the islands hard and since there was no cure yet for Hansen's Disease, the sad suffering folks were dumped on the island of Molokai...essentially to rot and life like animals. Learning of their plight, the Church decides to send priests there temporarily...staying briefly but hopefully not long enough to contract the dreaded illness. Little did they know that the first man sent there, Father Damien, would stay...until he, too, was overcome by the illness after being there many years.

It's obvious that the story must have been a labor of love to several actors. After all, Peter O'Toole, Leo McKern and Derek Jacobi didn't need the money and the first two actors were all but retired. And, I am glad they did, as the film was a nice end piece to their careers. Very well made, fascinating to watch and be sure to keep some Kleenex nearby if you watch it.

This is a surprisingly intimate look at some of Father Damien's experiences, but the dramatic structure of the film is often frustratingly fragmented.

Scenes of the authorities on O'ahu struggling with how to deal with the amazing man and his demands on behalf of his community seem to have been shot very hastily, and they fit poorly with the more carefully conceived segments from Moloka'i. Even there, the scenes with Peter O'Toole seem poorly integrated into the progression of the story.

Despite the participation of many top-flight actors and actual local victims of Hansen's disease, this film offers only fleeting, tantalizing glimpses of what could have been a tremendously powerful drama of the life of a man who may yet become an actual saint. In isolation, the leading performances are very fine, but the package failed to gel and the film is, finally, only a carefully-drawn series of vignettes.

I knew nothing of Father Damien until I saw this movie, but after seeing it I immediately sought more information on him. I strongly recommend this movie for those who are curious about the saint or have a special devotion to him.