El Bosque de Karadima

This is the second Chilean movie dealing with priest sex abuse that makes it seem more like a gay seduction May December relationship than a rape situation. The movie is very well made. The characters are very real and all the nuances are there ... but ... it is troubling. It made me think that perhaps the church would prefer that the public views things this way. The victim in this case is portrayed more like a guy who can't quite come out of the closet and views the priesthood as a commitment to being gay. Sure, I can understand a situation like that but it's a dangerous generalization to suppose all or most cases of sex abuse are like this. The main theme of the movie seems to be that it takes two to tango. It is not fair to the victims.

Impressive movie, specially if you have seen in that past Luis Gnecco,as a comedian...you won't find him on the movie...there is just a traditional but criminal priest.

Outstanding characters, intense movie. Based on a real story. Hard to believe, but true. Maybe it won't be easy for the foreign public, but easy to be understood for people living in Chile and interested to understand some cultural local social codes.

Benjamin Vicuña, performs great too, specially on his deep way to view, to look, without talking he express some pain.

There are some scenes that don't give too much freedom to use your imagination.

I dislike how some people use the word "gay" for reviewing this movie. Evil is real, and it seduces swiftly, promising and caring deceitful, to finally take away your will, and have you psychologically under the spell of a monster that will consume it all, disguised as saint.

What's great about this movie?

It illustrates the loop very clear; starting with the search of love out of everything there is, going through a brief depiction of the family of the lead character, the social and historical background of Chile in the 80's.

The story is true, and it explains one of the biggest scandals of the Catholic church that still has consequences in the news nowadays.

It aims high to explain why the loop is so successful and widely criticized by others. the spiritual trap however is left to the judgment of the viewers.

The lows:

The movie is closer to a documentary, lacking of empathy and emotional connection with the audience.

It is mostly oriented to Chileans, for example, Pinochet appears in a TV briefly, but neither his name, nor the circumstances are explained. This is a pivotal piece of information, because it illustrates how the atmosphere of the film was filled with uncertainty, great fear to oppose the authority and widely accepted credibility towards the powerful Catholic Church.