BROKEN VOWS

US, 1987, 94 minutes, Colour.
Tommy Lee Jones, Annette O'Toole, M.Emmet Walsh, Milo O'Shea, Frances Fisher.
Directed by Jud Taylor.

Broken Vows is the story of a contemporary priest in crisis, who does not realise he is in crisis until he begins investigating a murder. Tommy Lee Jones is quite effective in the central role.

The film focuses on a murder, offers a mystery, without a sensational solution. The focus is on the priest, the effect of the dead man on him, his relationship with the dead man's girlfriend and his own crisis of celibacy and priesthood.

The film has a strong cast including Annette O'Toole as the girl, Frances Fisher as the wife, Milo O'Shea as the Monsignor, Emmett Walsh as the detective.

1. The story of a priest and his crisis, the blending with the murder mystery?

2. The American city, the inner city parish, the apartments, the art world? Musical score?

3. Titles, expectations? Dramatising a crisis?

4. Tommy Lee Jones as Joe Mc Mahon: credible, seeing him alone, watching It's A Wonderful Life on television (and its comment on his life)? Getting up late, rushing to work, hearing the boys' confessions, his easy answer that sins are an offence against God, hurrying them up? (This used later by Dan Phelan to attack Father Mc Mahon for not helping him?) The boy taking him to the death, the impact of Stuart in his dying, serenity, private religion, readiness to die? The change in Joe Mc Mahon? The discovery of who Stuart was, his mother's coming, the celebration of the Requiem Mass?

5. The police and their investigations, Hannigan and his leering crudity, finding Joe at the scene of the crime, his sly comments, insinuations about sexuality, phoning Joe at Nim's apartment, being right about Joe's future?

6. Maureen and her anger, her marriage to Dan and advice from Father Mc Mahon, Dan as gay and going to the bars, his being arrested, attempting suicide, his desperation in talking with Father Mc Mahon and the lack of help when he was young? Maureen telling the truth about herself and Roderick? Dan's wandering from the hospital, being taken back?

7. Monsignor as the pious parish priest, nice and helpful, yet no help? Insinuations and questions, going into Joe's room, trying to support him, but merely talking platitudes? The focus on God, people coming to the church rather than the priests going out? His representing the church in the dramatising of this crisis? The glimpse of the curate and his own life, not being disturbed?

8. Nim and her arrival in the sacristy, the run and Father Mc Mahon chasing her, his meeting her next day, her taunting and flirting, her art, the name of Emile Bernard? Finding the gallery, the visit with Father Mc Mahon, the questions of the director and his wife? Her relationship with the police? Dinner with the gallery director? Her being in love with Joe, the temptation, sharing with him? Their sexual encounter? Her reaction? Going to Gina and finding the truth? Leaving him with his choice?

9. Drum and Gina, the gallery, the names of the artists, their lies, the dinner, stealing the portrait, the drawing and discovering Drum in the drawing, the confrontation, the truth, Gina's callous motives in Stuart's death?

10. The effect on Father Mc Mahon: his going out with Nim, the suit and tie, Monsignor and the comments on worldliness, the dinner with the gallery owner, going back with Nim, going back to her place, his decision about the sexual relationship, the lateness of his return, his not saying Mass, discussion with Monsignor?

11. His comment to Nim about the betrayal of his vows, his belonging to the church, his discussions about the church, arguments, discussions about celibacy and celibacy as a sacrifice? The nature of priesthood? His comments to Monsignor about the nature of an effective priest? (How would this have been handled in reality; realism versus dramatising a crisis?)

12. Personal, study, thriller framework? The church in the '80s? The crises in priesthood? Questions of relationships, sexuality and celibacy?