THE GOOD CATHOLIC

US, 2017, 96 minutes, Colour.
Zachary Spicer, Wrenn Schmidt, Danny Glover, John C.Mc Ginley.
Directed by Paul Shoulberg.

The Good Catholic is a film for Catholic audiences principally. Those not familiar with or interested in the Catholic Church may find it too detailed and uinteresting.

The writer and Dir seems to have a very strong Catholic background, the possibility that he studied in a seminary, so detailed is his knowledge about priests and the church. The setting is Bloomington, Indiana, and the final credits mention a great number of individuals from the city as well as businesses supported the film. It certainly is one of the stars.

The film is very strong in its presentation of the visuals of the church, icons, rituals… It is also accurate in its presentation of church language, a collage of the sacraments, the portrait of the priests. Danny Glover is the parish priest of 30 years, stern in his manner. He contrasts with John C. Mc Ginley as Ollie, a Franciscan friars who works in the parish. The third priest is played by Zachary Spicer, younger, formal in his manner, still exploring his commitment and then challenged by a chance encounter with a singer, Wrenn Schmidt, who comes into his confessional saying that she is dying – which begins something of a challenging to-and fro-, and Father Daniel having to think and pray through his vocation.

While Father Daniel is at the centre of the film, the audience realises that his seminary training should have opened him to the wider world and church, that he is very awkward socially, ingenuous. The relationship with the singer changes him, challenged by the old priest, practical and humorous support from the Friar, discussions with the singer.

Audience expectations, in the current climate of the Catholic Church, would be that Father Daniel leaves the priesthood. However, prior to the ending of the film, there is a very strong homily given by Ollie on ministry and compassion going beyond the individual. There is also a homily given by Father Victor exploring the Gospel of John, the relationship between God and love.

While Father Daniel removes his collar as he goes to visit the singer again, this is open-ended insofar as he could certainly leave the priesthood but, in view of the impact of the homilies on him, he could stay and have a friendly and Platonic relationship with the singer.

1. The title? Expectations? A story of clergy? Laity? Church community? Catholic traditions? In the 21st-century?

2. The Indian setting, the city of Bloomington, the credits and the thanks to characters and businesses in the city? The vistas of the city, its a day by day life, social, religious?

3. Catholicism, churches, interiors, pictures, icons, chant, rules, the visualisation of the sacraments? The range of musical score, hymns, Amazing Grace?

4. The introduction in the confessional, Daniel, waiting, Jane coming in, the introduction of the two characters, their interrelationship? His hearing confessions, proper manner, her casual approach, claiming to be dying, keeping Daniel guessing? The later return to the confessional, the idea of their changing places and he confess to a layperson rather than to a priest?

5. The character of Daniel Madison, age, few years ordained, inexperience, the touch of the ingenuous, the touch of naivete? Awkward in social interactions? In the confessional, singing, his jogging and its being a passion? His place in the community of three? Their duties in the parish, weekly meetings to assign duties?

6. The confessional, the issue of death and discussions about death? In the rectory, issues of baseball? The important collage of the administration of each of the sacraments bringing the sacramental life of the church alive? His talking with the couple about their marriage, the woman’s incessant talking, his sleeping? Reprimanded by Victor? Barista Jane, the influence of his father, his expectations of priesthood, his father’s death, administering the sacraments, his father happy? His phone calls to his mother? The interactions with Victor, the stern parish priest? With Ollie, Franciscan, cheery, serious discussions, on the porch? Watching the performance of Amazing Grace?

7. Jane, a character, singing, See Jane and her performance? The few in the crowd? The discussions about dying? The visits, spur of the moment, the relationship with Daniel, the discussions about friendship? His going to the performance? Walking her home? His awkwardness with her? Returning to her performance, going into her house, the drink of water, the discussions, the tensions? Jane having the upper hand in conversations?

8. Victor, 30 years the parish priest, stern, regulations, the attention to detail? Organised? Approving and disapproving? Disapproving of Ollie, Amazing Grace as near blasphemous? Challenging Daniel about his sense of God? Seeing God, sometimes? Daniel feeling he did not see God? Comment that if God shows up, I don’t want to miss it?

9. Jane, ironic comments, making the crucifix look pretty with make up? Her expecting him to confess impure thoughts…? The problem about the starcrossed platonic G-rated relationship?

10. Ollie, Franciscan, jolly, humorous, dedicated? The basketball apron? Amazing Grace and the enthusiasm, gyrations? The visit to Roger, his pastoral care in the hospital, dying man, the wife, Daniel going with him, Daniel learning pastoral care? The significance of his homily to the pincer boy, the whole emphasis on compassion and the nature of compassion?

11. The relationship with Jane, her coming to the bingo, his gift of the Bible and her reaction? His wanting to have a lovely friendship? The issue of totally dating? His poor explanation of celibacy? The humourless side of priesthood? Blaming the seminary?

12. The discussion with Daniel, about meeting someone, Daniel's interrogation in the church?

13. The invitation to the dinner, the tension, Jane’s presence, Victor calling her by the wrong name, insinuations and questions? Daniel and feeling awkward? Ollie and his observing? The discussion about the Passion of Christ? Human passions, priorities or not? The challenge to Daniel? Victor being condemned as a “Dick�?

14. The effect on Daniel, his prayer? The discussions with Victor? The significance in the screenplay of Victor's sermon, from John, seeing God in others, the nature of love, his saying how difficult it was to separate each? Daniel’s response, saying that he was back, absorbing Victor’s homily?

15. The ambiguity of the ending, open ended, Daniel going to Jane’s house, hesitation, looking heavenward is, smiling, removing his collar? A relationship which was friendly and his staying in the priesthood, or symbolising he was leaving the priesthood?

16. Contemporary Catholic issues, situations, characters, amplified in the screenplay allotted to each of the characters and their interactions?