Stella Days (2011) - full transcript
A small town cinema in rural Ireland becomes the setting for a dramatic struggle between faith and passion, Rome and Hollywood and a man and his conscience.
- Hello, nonie.
- Hello, father.
How do you feel now, Peggy?
- Oh, much better, father.
Holy oils have revived
me, same as last time.
- The last rites are
not medicine, Peggy.
Dr. Brady's your man for that.
He could never cure me.
I don't know what I'll do when.
You're gone back to Rome.
- The Latin prayer, father.
- Oh.
- Snow's bad up
here. It's only yourself
and the wireman
able for a day like this.
- Thank you, nonie. God bless.
- Thanks very much, father.
- One by one now. Up. Up.
- Push it. Steady. Come on, hey.
- Hello, father.
- It is all evidence of the
power of the almighty working
through the mind of man.
I know some of you are still
wary of these
machines. Don't be.
Electricity is one of the great
blessings of our
time. In lumine tuo.
Videbimus lumen. In
thy light shall we see light.
- Amen. Amen.
- Eileen, the floor is yours.
- Right, well, we're
going to start by learning
how to bake some scones.
- You sure that
thing is safe now?
- Oh, don't worry, Catherine,
'tis as safe as your
range. Safer, in fact.
- And much, much cleaner.
- What do you
think, miss Courtney?
- Well, it doesn't do anything
that the range doesn't do.
- I'm planning to get one
for the parochial house.
It will be my
parting gift to you.
Thank god we
lived to see the day.
Amn't I right, Brendan?
Modern conveniences,
properly supervised and used
for the right purpose, can be
a great help to our people.
- Isn't Brendan sounding more
and more like our beloved
be valera every day, Emmet?
- Ding-dong, ding-dong.
Look at that. Magic.
- Bless me, father,
for I have sinned.
It's been three weeks since
my last confession, father.
I took the name of the
lord in vain... Many times.
I was late for mass last Sunday.
- For your penance,
say three hail Marys.
- Sorry, father.
I'm not finished yet.
- Oh, I'm terribly
sorry. Carry on.
- Bless me, father,
I have sinned.
It's been a week since
I've been in confession.
I said a bad word three times.
- Momento. Per favore. Um...
What we have to remember
about gregorian chant
is its utter majesty. It's
done with love. Amore.
- It's done with affection. Afecto.
- Afecto.
- So let's go at it
again. One more time.
- So are you expecting the good
- news soon then, father?
- I am, miss Courtney.
- Please god.
- Please god.
- Would you like to come along, father?
- I will.
Your grace. I trust
that everything is still
in order for my return
to Rome. Yes, Rome, father.
Do you really want
to go back there?
- I'd dearly love to
complete my thesis
on Saint John of the cross.
- You were happy enough
to leave Rome at the time.
"A dolt of an Italian brought
right in over your head."
- Isn't that what you told me?
- I hope I didn't
put it like that. In any
case, I've been here
for three years, your grace.
- Being an Irish parish
priest is not a penance.
- I'm sorry.
- You consider yourself to be
- an intellectual, don't you?
- Well...
- You do, and you are. A
cut above US plain muck
- savages. - No, no, your grace.
- Oh, yes.
I'm sorry, father Barry.
It's going to take longer
than I thought. They're
a law unto themselves
over there in the
Vatican. In the meantime,
help me to build a new
church in your parish.
- A new church?
- Yes, it's time. - Holy Trinity
could use some
repairs, but it's still
a magnificent old...
- Oh, it's not worth doing up.
Better to start anew.
You should be very good
with money, father,
having spent 20 years
in america. Did you
not pick up the knack?
Picture it, standing
tall and majestic.
The biggest building
in the whole town.
Thank you, Sean. This
is what needs to happen
with every parish
in the diocese.
Let US give lie to the notion
that our country is stagnating.
I see a vibrant, holy
nation on the move.
- How much have you raised, father Keenan?
- £4,860.
- It's a start.
- Very good. Very good. Ned?
Now then, we need to
get going on the funds.
This raffle will
get you started.
Once you start the
fund-raising, it'll snowball.
And Rome will be there for you
- after the job is done.
- Father Barry.
Have we forgotten something?
- If you were to ask for my
opinion, I would say that Rome
is too far away and that
you've been there before.
But that would be me.
Oh, I love raffles.
- Hello.
- Hello, Joey. - Hello.
- Joey.
You look after the shop?
I want to go upstairs
- for a minute, okay?
- Yeah.
- Seems like a very
nice little town.
- Soft enough for you?
- Oh, yes. Yes, it is.
It's fine. I'll take it.
But that's if I get
the job, of course.
- I'll need you to pay weekly.
- Oh, that won't be a
problem. I can give you
- a week in advance.
- Good luck
with the interview
then. Excuse me a minute.
- Thank you.
- What's gonna happen when
daddy comes home for Christmas?
- Where's he gonna sleep?
- Where he always does.
Mr. Lynch won't be here.
He'll go home for Christmas.
I'm sure your father
will be home by then.
You'll be all right.
- Bless me, father, for I
have sinned. It's a week
since my last confession.
I took the lord's name in vain
last Thursday afternoon.
I was envious of my
neighbor's new belongings.
- What sort of belongings?
- An enamel bucket
and a bright red plastic basin.
- Is there anything else?
- Yes.
I committed the sin of pride.
I thought I looked
lovely in my new skirt.
- Do you have any passions, Mr. Devoy?
- Passions?
- Hobbies. - Oh.
- Sport.
- You play hurling, don't you?
- Yes.
- I've had a number of
temporary teaching jobs
in Dublin. I'm
ready for something
- more permanent now.
- And why borris, Mr. Lynch?
- Well, why not, Mr. Mcsweeney?
From what I hear, it's a town
- with a lot going for it.
- You're 27?
- 27 last month.
- You don't look it.
- That's what they tell me.
- And what did you
get up to in Dublin?
Now, that'd be telling.
I have very wide interests,
Mr. Mcsweeney. Music,
sports, the pictures.
Dublin was great
for the pictures. I was
impressed, by the way,
to find out that Rex ingram's
- people came from around here.
- Who? - Rex ingram,
the, famous filmmaker
who went off to Hollywood.
- You know, the protestant
rector's son who went
off to become a director.
- What's your
favorite ingram film?
- Well, I haven't seen them all.
I like the four horsemen of
the apocalypse, of
course, but I have to say
I have a very soft spot
for the prisoner of zenda.
- I think we've heard enough.
- We have indeed.
Congratulations, Mr. Lynch.
- And welcome to borrisokane.
- Thank you.
- I think that was
a bit hasty, father.
Especially as you're
leaving US soon.
- I've decided to stay amongst
you a bit longer,
Brendan. I knew that would
make you happy.
- Miss Courtney
said I'd find you here.
- She thinks I need an audience.
A new lens for the
projector. I wanted to see
how big an image I could get.
The parochial house is not the
- best place to show films.
- And the church is?
Just wanted to say
thanks for the job.
- You settling in all right?
- Yes, thanks.
Very well.
The dome of Saint Peter's.
- Have you been to Rome?
- No. Sorry.
- The Vatican library. I
lived and worked there
for years. The
bishop's decided I'm not
to go back there till I
build a new church here.
- So what's he like, his grace?
- The bishop likes
building new churches.
He has a countryman's
passion for concrete.
- Fontana di trevi.
One of the most beautiful plazas
in the world, I think.
- You know, there's a legend
that if you throw a
coin in the fountain,
- you'll return to Rome one day.
- That's my coin.
- Well, they say the money
goes towards good
works. Well, I'd better be
- getting back.
- All right. Oh,
thanks, once again, father.
- "Most of these Hollywood
stories and the manner of their
telling are alien to our Gaelic
culture and way of life.
Hard work and family commitments
are put aside to give way
to debauchery and sin.
It is therefore of the utmost
importance that we preserve
our own native stories,
customs, and games,
and insofar as possible,
reject the doubtful and often
downright malign influence of
what is not native to US.
Yours sincerely in
Christ, Terence hegerty,
"bishop of the diocese."
The bishop's pastoral will be
published in next
week's paper, of course,
so you may read it in
detail at your leisure.
Now, may I remind you once again
that we are making very little
progress with our building fund
for the new church.
Could you please
give generously today?
Thank you, and god bless.
And now, please
stand for the credo.
- God bless, Catherine.
- Thank you, father.
- Eileen, do you suppose
the electricity supply board
might consider throwing
a few shillings our way
- for the new church?
- I don't know.
I mean, the board gets so many
requests for
sponsorship. They do,
but I'm a great supporter.
In fact, I think sometimes they
should be paying me for
helping sell their cookers
and blessing the power lines.
- I'll inquire, father.
But I can't promise
anything. Thank you, Eileen.
- Tim.
- I enjoyed your film show the other night.
Do you ever think about showing
- your films at the hall?
- What do you mean?
- Well, put them on a double
bill with a good western.
- Good way to pass the winter.
- Kieran, god bless.
- Sorry, father.
- How are you father?
- Hello, John.
- Thanks, father.
- Thank you. Lads.
That's all I've got.
She's taken it all off me,
- father.
- I'll have one ticket, father.
- Thank you, Liam.
- Pity you're not in with
the g.A.A. Crowd, father.
They'd be a great help
- with the fund-raising.
- "Meagher", with a "g."
- No interest in
the game, father?
- They didn't go in for the hurling in Rome?
- No.
- Last priest we had here
was great at the g.A.A.
- Father Malone.
- Thank you, Liam.
- I hear you're not
leaving US after all, father.
- Not for a while.
- Aren't you better off?
Isn't the world outside
our shores in a calamitous
condition these days?
- And what would you know about
- it no more than myself?
- For god's sake,
- would you shut...
- I was able to read the street
signs when we
were over in London.
Didn't have to go
around sniffin' the air
- like a lost mongrel.
- Hey. Who's a lost mongrel?
- You came back home
soon enough with your tail
- between your legs.
- At least I had a good home
- to come back to.
- And so we come to borris...
Where progress
has been rather slow.
- Isn't that so, father Barry?
- It is, your grace.
- So did you get the raffle under way?
- I did.
But it just hasn't
taken off yet.
- Stingy crowd in
borris, are they?
- No, no, your
grace. There just isn't
that much money there.
- But they still want their new
church, don't they?
They do, of course.
- So what other plans have you?
It'll soon be the start of
a new year, and we need to
- keep the momentum going now.
- Pictures.
- You what?
- I was thinking about
- having a picture show... Shows.
- Pictures?
Your films. I see. Father
Barry's a dab hand
with the cine-camera,
a habit he picked up
over in Hollywood, I think.
- Catholic university in.
Washington's hardly
Hollywood, your grace.
- Father Barry spent 20 years
over in the land of the free.
He's a real wayfarer. So
do you think they'll part
with their pennies to go and see
- your little films?
- Oh, not just my films,
your grace. I was
thinking of hiring,
you know, proper films.
- You've read my pastoral
letter on that topic?
- Oh, I have, of course.
- Of course you have.
Well, provided they're
suitable. And now to Clare.
- We'll put a brand-new
modern screen here, of course,
as large as we can fit in.
There'll be rows and rows of
raised seats at the
center... Pullman seats...
The sort you'd find in Dublin,
with aisles on both sides.
- Have you given any thought to
the effect these pictures
will have on people?
- Oh, I have, Brendan.
They'll be a source of
enlightenment and entertainment
- to young and old alike.
- Bishop hegerty might not
agree with you there.
- You shouldn't presume
to know the bishop's mind.
- So this has bishop
hegerty's imprimatur?
- Imprimi protest. Censor
librorum non postulo.
- The bishop is a
plain-speaking man.
- I'll tell him you said so.
- And why is he present?
He's not on the committee.
- No, but it was his idea.
Now, naturally, the projection
room will be up
there. And des, that'll be
your responsibility. And
Willie, you'll be the one
to advise on the building works.
- I have serious moral
objections to this enterprise.
- Would a good confession help?
- There are people in
this town struggling to
put bread on the table,
and what are we offering
them? A picture house.
- The soul is fed by
many things, Brendan.
- I can find ample food for
my soul in the church, father.
- So what do you want to call it?
- The Stella...
- For star.
- You could call it the garden
of Allah in honor of Rex ingram.
Yeah. Is it warm enough?
- Oh, it'll warm up nicely
now. Oh, that's great.
- Hi, auntie Eileen.
- Hiya, Molly.
- What's that yoke?
- An electrical shaving mug.
- What's it do?
- Heats water.
- We're waiting for it to heat up.
- That's all?
- Well, it's not
selling too well.
I don't really know why.
Go on. It's ready now.
- Best shave you've ever had?
- Perfect.
- I'm your auntie's Guinea pig.
- Everyone will soon
have hot water on tap.
Why would you
use a thing like that?
- People like shiny things.
- Well, I suppose it
could come in handy
- if you're out some place.
- Like where?
Out in the fields? You
just plug it into a rock?
- I better go. I might
take you with me next
time I'm trying
to sell that thing.
See you later, Molly.
Come on, Joey, you come with me.
- How does it
work, auntie Eileen?
- I don't understand.
- What?
- In nomine patris, et
filii, et spiritus sancti.
Congratulations, Brendan.
We might be seeing you in
the national parliament
soon. That'll be the will
of the people, father.
The will of the people,
- of course.
- And the will of god.
All I know is that the place
is in sore need of stewardship.
That'll be the cornerstone
of my election campaign. Father.
- If you pledge a regular
amount, you'll be a sponsor
with your name in the program.
- And that's good for business.
- All proceeds
- go to the cinema fund?
- They do.
- Put me down for
one pound ten shillings.
So we'll see what happens.
- You're a hard woman, Sally.
- I'd need to be, father.
You'd do well to be a
bit cautious yourself.
- Thank you, and god bless.
- God bless.
- Brendan, this is Sean
I was telling you about,
Sean o'Flaherty.
- Michael, how are you?
- Hello, father.
- Good to see
you. Stephen, is it?
- It is, father.
- Oh, right.
Could you afford to make a small
donation to the
cinema fund, please?
- Ladies. May I have this dance?
- You may.
- Two lemonades.
We have glasses.
No need to dirty another pair.
- Do you have real
drink under that counter?
- I think you've
had enough already.
- You think you're
something, don't you?
Better than the rest of
US? Now that the priest
is getting you to show films.
- Glad you could take the time
- to join US, Brendan.
- People don't have much to
- give these days.
- It's a means to an end.
- Is this how you
got round the bishop?
- Do you see Maureen O'Connell
making eyes at everyone?
- Eileen, would you like to dance?
- Yes, please.
- Molly, will you mind it?
- Look who Eileen's with
over there.
- I hear from my son
that you're a good teacher.
We labor for life in a
small, country town.
Look ahead 10
years, 20, 50 even.
They say the world
might end in the year 2000.
But if it doesn't, what'll
this town be like then?
It's in our power to shape it.
We need young men like you.
Would you ever think
of joining the party?
- What's brought
this on, Brendan?
- I think you could go far.
That Eileen, she's
a nice girl. Bright.
But she needs to
settle down soon.
- I bet now you'd rather be at
home listening to Renata tebaldi
singing on your gramophone.
- It's been a great night.
- Between you and me,
I'd swap it all for a
few bars of Artie Shaw.
- Jazz! That's a matter
for confession, Tim.
- £850? We've barely £270
in the restoration fund,
and Brendan mcsweeney isn't
going to let US touch
that without a fight.
- I mean, £800...
- £850, des.
Don't be afraid to say
it. If we don't move now,
we won't be open for
easter. And of course,
there will be ample
opportunity to show films
of an educational nature...
Handcrafts, beekeeping,
butter-churning,
safety first, and so on.
The Stella will be a
fount of knowledge.
- And what about the
filth and immorality, father?
- There'll be
none of that, Julia.
- Well, I think we
should give it a chance.
- All I'm saying is, once
something like that is turned
on, it's hard to turn off.
- Brendan is
against it, isn't he?
- I'm saying what I
think myself here now.
It's nothing to do with Brendan.
- Sure, we'll know soon enough
if we're being corrupted...
- By the beekeeping films.
- It's not films about
beekeeping that they're
queuing up to see in nenagh.
- Here, on the edge of Europe,
on the edge of the
world, the people of aran
live and praise his name,
daily putting
their trust in god.
- This is a sacred place.
- The bishop sent it down.
Thought father might consider
- opening the Stella with it.
- I'm giving it
- serious consideration.
- That's the last
- of the Italian coffee now.
- Aye.
- Thank you, miss Courtney.
- You still want to
- go back to Rome?
- Untouched by the changes that
make our world more
dangerous by the day.
This happy, holy
community show US what...
- They made a 28-year-old
the head curator after
I'd been promised that position.
- Try and be like them.
- He was Italian, of course.
- Pray like them.
- Oh, I still have my pride.
- So you kicked up
- a bit of a fuss?
- Oh, I did. And I ended up here.
- The truth is not to be found
in our bright and sinful cities.
- Could have been worse.
- You could have ended up
- in the aran islands.
- The truth is here
amidst this chaste people.
We should strive to make
the whole world like aran.
- It's a pity you didn't devote
more time to the bishop's
pastoral last Sunday.
- People can do
that for themselves.
- As you well know, the
majority, unfortunately,
are either too illiterate
or too indolent to sit down
and read an important
document like that.
- The people need to
be educated, to be told.
After hundreds of years of
foreign occupation, we finally
have the freedom to fashion a
country of our own making.
Safe and self-sufficient.
- Saint Patrick would have had
- a hard time with you.
- Saint Patrick?
- Wasn't he an outsider?
- Saint Patrick wasn't trying
to sneak in Hollywood filth.
You need to get
the people fired up.
They're crying out
for a guiding light.
- "The light of hope,
the glorious future
that belongs to you,
to me, to all of US."
- Saint Francis of assisi.
- Charlie chaplin,
the great dictator.
- Come on, let's
go see the tree.
It's huge, isn't it?
- Very christmassy.
Love the tree, by the way.
- Thank you.
- I hope it's all right,
me sticking around
through the holidays.
- Well, your mother'll be
disappointed you didn't
get home for Christmas.
- Oh, she'll be grand.
What with my sisters, cousins,
aunts, there'll be no
room for me anyway.
♪ The wren, the wren ♪
♪ the king of all birds ♪
♪ Saint Stephen's day ♪
♪ was caught in the furze ♪
♪ up with the kettle ♪
♪ and down the pan ♪
♪ give me a penny ♪
♪ to Bury the wren ♪
♪ if you haven't a penny ♪
♪ a 'penny will do ♪
♪ if you haven't a 'penny ♪
♪ god bless you ♪
- You make a fine
looking pair, Molly.
- So what happened to Jimmy?
- Typical of him
not to turn up, not
even for Christmas.
- Joey, are you there?
Maybe he'll be home for easter.
- Hello, father.
- God bless the work.
Remember, man, thou art dust,
and unto dust thou shalt return.
Remember, man, thou art dust,
and unto dust thou shalt return.
- Doesn't it look great?
- What about the holy
oils while you're at it?
I can't keep anointing you for
the same illness, Peggy.
- But it's a different
illness this week, father.
- Okay, so nonie,
here's the on switch.
And there's six
different heat levels.
One being the lowest;
Six being the highest.
- It's very simple.
- Try it so.
- Well, now, we have to
wait till Gerry's finished
- connecting the wires.
- All done.
- You're now connected
to the national grid.
- Oh, no. Let father
Barry be the one.
And say a prayer now
before you do it, father.
- I've nothing prepared. Um...
Grant, o lord, we beseech thee,
- that the light enter in this...
- No, no, father.
Speak your lovely Latin.
- Gloria patris, et filio, et
spiritui sancto, sicut erat in
principio, et nunc, et semper
et in saecula
saeculorum. Amen. Amen.
- Are we ready? Click!
- Is there really
another life, father?
- Oh, Peggy, of course there is.
- Well, what is heaven?
- Why, heaven
- is the face of god.
- And where is it?
We know where we are.
But we don't know where
we're going, isn't that it?
- Grab it. I dare you.
- No, I can't. - Do it!
- Joey's afraid.
- Leave me alone.
- What'll you do about it?
Do you think your daddy
in London will hear
you if you shout?
- It has to go all the way...
- Yeah.
- And is this then, a banner?
- ♪ La da-da di da ♪
- Lads, come on.
- Thank you, Willie.
God bless, man.
- Come on, Frankie, let's go!
- What's this?
- My daddy used to
work here too, you know...
Before he went to
england. He made things
no one else could.
- Can I go now?
- You can. But you may have to
become a priest
now. If the hat fits.
- But it didn't fit.
And I'm only nine.
- I wasn't much older than you
- when I got the call.
- Who called you?
- Well, who do you
think? Himself, of course.
- Well, how'd you
know? Did you see a light
- or something?
- Oh, no, no light. Just happened.
- But I knew. - Father.
- Thanks, lads.
- Was your mommy happy
when it happened? She was,
- of course.
- Did you hear a voice? - I did...
- In a manner of speaking.
- In your head?
- From inside me, yes.
- Well, what did it say?
- What did what say?
- The voice from inside you.
- It said, "come, follow me."
But it was the voice of
god, all right. Let's go.
- All right, we'll walk
it in. Whoops. Gently.
- Now... - Say the word.
- It's now or never.
Soon your... your fridge will be
there, your washing
machine here, your electric
clothes dryer over there,
and a hoover under
the stairs. Invisible heat.
Constant. Always
under control, sure.
And that's the beauty
of it. Isn't it great that
- we've seen the day?
- You play outside, Joey.
- Well, thanks a million, des.
- Any time.
Come on, son. You can
help me carry this stuff
around to the hall.
Hold the door open for me there.
- Well, how do I look?
- Perfect. Jane Wyman in
all that heaven allows.
I didn't see that one.
It makes everything
else in here look so old.
- Does that include me?
- Maybe not you.
I want it all... Now.
A fitted kitchen
like you'd see in a picture.
It sounds silly, doesn't it?
Dreaming of an electric house,
and look at the state I'm in.
- Last year, before
you, before all of this,
I was perplexed at what the
- future might hold for me.
- Oh, bishop hegerty's
- new church?
- Do you ever wonder if you
chose the right
path in life, Tim?
- Every morning when
I face the little monsters.
You see, you're allowed
to say that. I'm not.
- Brendan has won the election.
- His election speech.
- Tea, gentlemen?
- "I want to make education
and the moral welfare
of our young people
my number one priority.
I'm referring now to a misguided
plan to open a picture
house, spearheaded by
a member of the
clergy. Precious time
and scarce resources
"are being wasted on..."
- Et cetera, et cetera.
- I have had complaints
from some of the parents.
I have to remain neutral,
not antagonize any
section of the community.
- You have to stand up
to cretins like Brendan.
- It's not that simple.
- It is.
- I'm sorry, Tim, but
it's not. It never was.
Father, if you could maybe
try to bring him on side
before he gets to the bishop.
- How blind can people be?
Electing someone
like that to high office?
It'd make you question
the very idea of democracy.
- People like Brendan
capitalize on fear.
- The people, they're
afraid of everything.
There's not a grain of
confidence left in the country.
But you're still more
powerful than he is, Daniel.
You have the
authority of the church.
That's still the last word.
- It's about
responsibility, Tim.
It isn't about
authority. But it is.
You're the parish priest.
You can do whatever you like.
- Bless me, father, for I
have sinned. It's a week
since my last confession.
I took the lord's name
in vain last Thursday.
I was late for mass on
Sunday. I lost my temper...
- Father.
- Good day, father.
- Thank you very much.
- You're most welcome.
- You had no business saying
that in your election speech.
- I'm not without
influence, father.
You shouldn't dismiss
people like me too lightly.
Power's a very fragile thing.
It can slip away when
you least expect it to.
- Is that a threat, Brendan?
- Can you not see
that we're on the same side?
You've had three long years to
establish your authority here.
You have singularly
failed in that task.
You leave me no alternative
but to bring the matter
to the attention of the bishop.
- You may bring the matter
to the attention of
the pope, for all I care.
- The bishop is a man who cares
about the moral well-being
of the Irish people.
- I've spoken to them in Dublin
- about the projector.
- Don't tell me
they don't have one!
- Oh, they have one, all right.
But he's wanting
payment. Half now, and half
- when it's delivered.
- There's no trust left
- in the country.
- It's more than we have
in the account, father.
- Then we'll take it out of
the church restoration fund.
We'll put it back
later, with interest.
It would be open every night
of the week, with a matinee
on Saturday and Sunday.
It might even help keep
them out of the pubs.
And do you know how much
the ormond in nenagh
brings in every week?
- All I know about the ormond
is that I have to check the
paper every week to make sure
they don't show any filth there.
- You won't have that problem
- with the Stella, your grace.
- And they're for
- this picture house, your flock?
- Oh, they are.
- The majority.
- Oh, majorities, minorities.
That sort of language
is not within our realm.
- Your grace, most of the Irish
people are still a hair's
breath from paganism.
- And a picture house will make
- them more... god-fearing?
- In a strange sense,
it could, yes. As
a modern tool...
To help civilize them.
- Mind you don't
break that statue.
- I won't break it.
- I think I have a calling.
- What?
- From the holy ghost.
I want to be a priest.
I'll hear your confession.
That's the first duty
of a newly ordained priest.
- I think that's communion
you're thinking of.
- I'll hear your confession.
Too. You will not.
Joey, you're nine years
old. How can you know
what you want to
be? What put all this
- into your head?
- I heard a voice inside me.
- What am I gonna do with you,
- What's wrong with you, des?
- This is perfect.
- Don't make it look
too perfect now.
- Jimmy.
- Who's this?
- How did you get here?
- Got to Dublin yesterday.
- Got a lift down.
- I'm Tim. - Are you?
- It gives me great pleasure to
announce that we have
raised £108, 4 shillings,
- and 7 pence here tonight.
- What the fuck
- is all this about?
- Which brings our cinema fund
to over £1,200. We're
well on course to open the
Stella on easter Sunday
night, please god.
- Saw they're closing them down
in London, cinemas.
TV is the big thing now.
17-inch.
- We're going home.
- Tim is staying with US.
- Is he? - He's a lodger.
- I'm a schoolteacher.
- A lodger? We don't
have room for lodgers.
- I had to make room,
Jimmy. I needed the money.
- The prodigal, the return.
Welcome back then,
James. Good to see you.
- You're coming with me.
- Jimmy!
- Why didn't you tell me about this?
- Tell you?
I didn't even have an
address for you for months.
- I knew the minute I walked
- in the door and saw you.
- Knew what?
- That you shamed me in there,
- talking about money. - I...
- How long has he been
- fuckin' ridin' you?
- I think we better
get you home now, James.
- Are you staying with her too?
- You've no right to be
carrying on like this,
Jimmy. There's nothing...
- Get Dr. Brady down here!
- I'm all right.
- You're back two minutes,
and look what you done.
- Look at the cut of you!
- Fuck off, you!
- Oh, lovely, the Teddy
boy language and all.
- Come on.
- I don't want to go home with a whore.
- Go home with
your wife now, James.
- You can't tell me what to do.
I'm not afraid of
priests anymore...
Or sour old craw-thumping cunts!
- Get him out of here.
- Fuck the lot of you!
- I met nonie Cassidy
in the shop, father.
She says Peggy's not the best.
- Wants you to go down and see her.
- Not now.
- Well, your anointing oils.
- Father, father! Bishop
hegerty's on the phone.
- Thank you. Yes, your grace.
- Father, what about Peggy?
- Father.
- What did I tell you, des?
Bye-bye, picture house.
- Des!
- Are you all right there, Larry?
- Look at that lunatic!
He's turned into a lunatic.
- I'd say mcsweeney
blew it all out of...
- Oh, never mind mcsweeney.
the most powerful
man in that community.
Your authority must be
unquestioned. Unquestioned!
You told me the cinema would
have a civilizing influence.
Instead, we have chaos.
Now, I've been told that you are
buying magic lantern
machines and spending money
left, right, and center.
All paid for out of the
church restoration fund.
- Yes, your grace.
- How much money have you spent
- on this business so far?
- About £1,000. - £1,000?
- Yes, your grace.
- Do you know how much concrete
we could buy for £1,000?
Do you understand what we are
about at all, father?
This is a constant, never-ending
battle for the control
of hearts and minds.
And it's a battle we could lose.
Maybe not today,
not tomorrow, but...
We have to keep one step
ahead of them all the time.
- Poor Peggy's gone.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb...
- I'm so sorry for
your trouble, nonie.
- Too late now, father.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Glory be to the
father, and to the son,
and to the holy spirit.
- As it was in the beginning.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Our father, who art in
heaven, hallowed be thy name.
- Jeremiah will be one
of how many other boys?
- 12.
- 12 new priests. How exciting.
- Is this Jeremiah?
- No, father. That is Daniel.
- What do you want, Daniel?
- Nothing father.
- Well, away with you then.
- Will ye settle down, will ye?
Today we will talk
about viking longships
coming towards shore,
filled with armed men. No.
Let me see. Oh, yes.
Today we will talk about
picture houses and
how to be a whore.
Hand me that chalk.
Well, to be a
whore in this town,
you have to be Joey's mommy.
- Slap!
- Get back to your seat!
- Stop it. You're murdering
it! Can you not listen
to one another? Can you
not do it for each other?
Can you not do it for me?
Can you not hear
yourself, Julia?
- We're clearly not good
enough for you, father.
Oh, and father... Did you
hear your teacher friend
got the sack today?
- Is it true, Emmet?
- Yes, father.
- You had no right to do that.
- With respect...
- I am the chairman
of the school board.
No one is dismissed
here without my approval.
- It was an emergency meeting.
We tried to find you,
but... Brendan mcsweeney...
- That craw-thumping
ignoramus has no authority
to dismiss anyone. Tim,
go back to your classroom
- with my apologies.
- Father...
- I will not see an innocent
man's name discredited
by a spineless coward!
- With respect, father,
I don't think this is wise.
- Come in.
- Thanks for standing
up for me like that.
Been a strange few months.
You never know the way
things are gonna turn out.
I've been very happy here. I...
Living there, with her...
- She really didn't believe
at all. Peggy Cassidy.
All the years, all the
prayers. It was only fear.
- What I'm trying
to say, Daniel, is...
- That young priest in Rome
who was promoted
above me, he was, in fact,
a brilliant scholar.
But my pride wouldn't
allow me to admit that.
God forgive me, I hated him
for his youth, his clarity.
And I know I'm mocked
behind my back here for my Latin
and my lingua italiana.
They think it's all a
put-on, but it isn't.
I was taken out of the world
when I was 12 years of age.
This is such a
desperate place, Tim.
I thought it might
be real in some way.
But it's just damp and
poor in every sense.
I don't know what would have
become of me if you
hadn't been here this winter,
to have someone to talk with.
At that time, Jesus crossed to
the far shore of the sea of
galilee and a great
crowd followed him.
Then he went up on a
mountainside and sat
down with his disciples.
The Jewish passover
festival was near.
When Jesus looked up and saw a
great crowd coming
towards him, he said to Philip,
"where shall we buy bread
for these people to eat?"
Philip answered him, "it..."
Philip answered him, "it
would take more than..."
Recently, someone asked me
"where is heaven, father?"
I told them that heaven
was the face of god,
but I knew that they were
looking for something
more familiar, a place.
We seek comfort in
what is known, it seems.
And sure, didn't our
savior himself tell US that,
"in my father's house,
there are many mansions"?
For my own part, I believe that
heaven dwells in our
humanity. And that is why
it is so wrong to judge others.
There is a young man here among
US who was recently
scandalized by idle gossip.
This is the sort of rash
judgment that tears apart
the fabric of a community
and that... that makes
US distrust one another.
- What's he on about?
- Then slowly but surely, we
begin to see clearly the simple
fault in our neighbor while we
remain blind to the great
fault within ourselves.
- It's like watching
a man hang himself.
- And...
- That's Tim? They sacked him
- because of that fight?
- The thing is,
- Jimmy was right.
- Right? About what?
What are you trying
to tell me, Molly?
- I think I fell in love with him, Eileen.
- Tim?
- Does he know about this?
- Of course, he does.
- We...
- Oh, god. Oh.
Joey. Where is he?
- Change is coming
to this country, Daniel.
Our holy church will not be
in second place much
longer. Believe me now.
You will have great power
and influence in
this land very soon.
Father Daniel Barry.
- I'm very sorry. I'm
not hearing confessions
- right now.
- I'm not here for confession.
- Please, go away, Brendan.
- I don't know where
your place is in the world,
but it isn't here, father.
You don't know US.
You don't know what we need.
For three long years, I have
tried to explain my people's
wants and needs to
you. I foolishly thought
we were on the same side.
I could have been the saving
of you if you took my advice.
You have put yourself above
the needs of your people!
Go home. There
is no priest here.
- Come on. - Watch your back.
- Aye, I will.
- Well, if it isn't
sergeant warden.
You better step
inside or you'll get wet.
- I am wet.
- If you're looking for the
- captain, he isn't here.
- And if I'm not
- looking for him?
- He still isn't here.
- Well, I'm looking for
him. You know where he is?
- I haven't the slightest idea.
Perhaps he's in
town on business.
That's the way you put
it the other day, isn't it?
That's what I like about you,
sergeant, you have confidence.
It's also what I
dislike about you.
- It's not confidence,
ma'am, it's honesty.
I just hate to see a beautiful
- woman going all to waste.
- Waste, did you say?
There's a subject I might
tell you something about.
I know several kinds of waste.
- Has anyone seen Joey?
- No, I haven't.
- You're probably not even
remotely aware of some of them.
- Would you like to hear?
- Joey?
- For instance, what about the
house without a child?
There's one sort for you.
Then there's another.
What are you doing?
- I'm leaving. Isn't
that what you want?
- I don't know,
sergeant. I don't know.
- I tried talking to
Daniel. I tried to tell him.
- He just kept talking about himself.
- He knows.
- We was just testing the projector.
- Des!
What are you doing? Des,
shut down the projector.
And who was it who
opened the cinema?
- Well, the seats were
delivered, and they sent
a roll of film down
to test the projector.
- I'm sorry.
- Let's go up to Mrs. Kipper's
parlor and sit there. She
lets US use it sometimes
- for somebody special.
- Been sacked.
- So you want to leave?
- I've lost my job.
- So you want to leave?
- My daddy had to leave
because he stabbed
Mr. Lynch. Is that true?
- He was drunk,
Joey. He didn't know
- what he was doing.
- Well, that's it now, so he's
- never gonna come home again.
- Joey!
- What are they doing?
- They're kissing!
- You are breaking the law
of god and man by watching
- that rancid abomination!
- I never knew
- it could be like this.
- Shut it down now!
- Nobody ever kissed
me the way you do.
- The world outside our holy
and beleaguered
island is going to hell!
- And now you can see why.
- Not even one?
- Elizabeth Taylor!
- Turn it off!
- We must keep storming heaven
to combat the evil American
filth lapping like a mad
dog at sacred shores.
- It's Deborah kerr,
not Elizabeth Taylor!
- Shut it down!
- Joey?
- Joey? Joey?
- Yes, father?
He didn't even bother
to come home and see me
when he came home last time.
He just got into fights
and said, "fuck it,"
- and walked away to england.
- You're upset now,
but you shouldn't use
that sort of language.
- He used to work here once.
- I know he did.
And he used to make things
- that no one else could make.
- No, he couldn't.
Mr. Dillon had to sack him
because of his drinking.
Even Frankie says that,
- and it's true.
- Shall we go home now?
- What did you hear when god
asked you to be a priest?
- Well... God never asked
me to be a priest, Joey.
- You were lying?
You weren't called?
- I was called, all
right, but not by god.
- Well, I'm not lying.
I've heard the voice
- of the holy ghost.
- Joey.
- I'm going to be a priest.
And I'm going to stop
people doing bad things.
Credo in deum
patrem omnipotentem.
- Joey, listen to me.
That is not the right thing
- for you to do now.
- It is. And it would be a sin
- for anyone to stop me.
- No, Joey. - Joey? Joey.
Thank you for finding
him, father. Come on.
- Don't worry, mommy,
everything's gonna be
all right now.
- But you said Jeremiah had
been called by the holy ghost.
- Well, the holy ghost
has changed his mind.
- I think that perhaps you
might have known all along that
- it was you being called, Daniel.
- No. I didn't.
- Well, it's all settled now.
I need Jeremiah to help
me run the business.
- I think that deep down,
Daniel, you always knew it.
I can almost see the holy spirit
shining from your face.
I'm sure you can feel it.
You will be so special.
There is no greater love than
that of a people
for their priest.
And you'll make me the
happiest mother in Ireland.
- Thurles has a very
busy little cinema.
Average take there
is about £150 a week.
Roscrea, the classic. £200.
- And the ormond in nenagh?
- Oh, they do best of all.
- Average weekly take there is over £300.
- What?
- Sometimes more,
depending on the film.
- Will that be all, your grace?
- No.
Get me father Barry
down here now.
I have a cousin who
has a diocese in america.
Long beach. I was
out there to visit him
in the summer.
Aren't supermarkets
extraordinary in
the states, father?
- Oh, now, Rome shrinks
when you walk into a
supermarket in California.
Maybe a stained
glass window here,
to catch the morning light.
Not much ornamentation.
It should be imposing,
yet functional. Modest
in a majestic sort of way.
- More le corbusier
than Michelangelo then.
- You what? Nothing, just...
I think I know exactly
what you want, your grace.
Yes. Yes. I suppose
you're wondering
why I asked you to come here.
You may remember a while
back, talking to me about
illumination, tools to
civilize your pagan flock.
- Oh, well, I don't...
- I think I get your logic
now. Maybe we're closer
to them buckos in Hollywood
than we care to admit.
Your picture house
might be just the thing
in the current climate.
We need to keep one step ahead
- of them all the time.
- Ahead of who?
- The world, father
Barry, the world.
The dark forces of secularism.
This will be the gable.
Chancel there. Nave here.
High altar there.
And father Barry's
little picture house
will pay for all of this.
- Are you nearly there, Willie?
- Yep, I've just finished here.
I'll be finished here in a.
- Minute and I'll get it then.
- Hello, Molly.
- How's Joseph?
- He'll be grand. Thanks.
- About him wanting
to become a priest.
- I just want him to be happy.
- He's far too young
to know, Molly.
- I'm not going
to fight with him.
- I never knew what to say to
my parents when they came
to visit me in the
seminary. I just wanted them
to take me home. They
sat there and talked about
the changing of the seasons.
By my second year, we were
already lost to each other.
I never should
have come back here.
- You wanted to come home?
- I did.
- I'm not sorry it happened.
It gets so dark and
lonely here in the winter.
I shouldn't be saying
any of this to you.
- No, maybe you shouldn't.
- I know you wouldn't
- understand, but it was love.
- How do you know
I wouldn't understand?
- I'm talking about real love
that two people can feel
on this earth. I don't...
- I don't mean god's love.
- Neither do I.
- It's what's
missing in this place.
It's what's missing in
this whole bloody country.
- In the evening of life,
we will be judged by
love... And by love alone.
- Who said that?
- A lonely old Saint.
A recommendation. A good one.
- I wasn't expecting that. Why?
- You know very well
it's impossible to get a job
- without it.
- That's true. Maybe I wasn't cut out
for the teaching.
There's a local election
coming up down my
way. I thought I might
throw me hat in the ring.
- You think a politician's
life will suit you?
- Won't know till I try.
You should go to Rome
next winter or somewhere
where there's light.
I would, if I was you.
Good-bye, Daniel.
- God bless.
- Bishops don't
bless picture houses.
Did you ever hear
of one doing it?
- He's a bishop. He
can bless anything
he feels like blessing.
- Well, if the bishop's there,
- you have to be there.
- I know. One day,
they'll see their folly.
- Will it be a cowboy film?
- Shut up!
- Bless this building
and all those who use it.
And Grant that the
activities that take place here
will build up a spirit of order
amongst the community
and lead to the well-being
of all our citizens. In
the name of the father,
and of the son, and of the
holy ghost. Amen. Amen.
- Well done, father.
- Father Barry!
- Well done, father.
- Oh, what is it?
- Aren't you gonna go
- round Columbus circle?
- What for?
- Oh, to see it.
- It? - That's what
- this whole date's about.
- What?
- What I've got that you want.
- I give up.
- It's Gladys glover.
- No kidding?
- Hello. Joseph, welcome.
- Thanks, father.
- Sorry we're late, father.
- That's all right.
- Everything all right? Sure.
Just stepped out for a bit.
So are you winning them over
out there along the
dark and rural byways?
- I think so. Slowly but surely.
- Mom, it's started.
- It's a hard old slog.
It'll happen, Eileen.
It's hard to argue against the
- brilliance of a 60-watt bulb.
- That's true.
- Come on. - Okay, Joey.
- Are you going back in?
- I think I remember
how this one ends.
I'll see you later.
- Hello, father.
How do you feel now, Peggy?
- Oh, much better, father.
Holy oils have revived
me, same as last time.
- The last rites are
not medicine, Peggy.
Dr. Brady's your man for that.
He could never cure me.
I don't know what I'll do when.
You're gone back to Rome.
- The Latin prayer, father.
- Oh.
- Snow's bad up
here. It's only yourself
and the wireman
able for a day like this.
- Thank you, nonie. God bless.
- Thanks very much, father.
- One by one now. Up. Up.
- Push it. Steady. Come on, hey.
- Hello, father.
- It is all evidence of the
power of the almighty working
through the mind of man.
I know some of you are still
wary of these
machines. Don't be.
Electricity is one of the great
blessings of our
time. In lumine tuo.
Videbimus lumen. In
thy light shall we see light.
- Amen. Amen.
- Eileen, the floor is yours.
- Right, well, we're
going to start by learning
how to bake some scones.
- You sure that
thing is safe now?
- Oh, don't worry, Catherine,
'tis as safe as your
range. Safer, in fact.
- And much, much cleaner.
- What do you
think, miss Courtney?
- Well, it doesn't do anything
that the range doesn't do.
- I'm planning to get one
for the parochial house.
It will be my
parting gift to you.
Thank god we
lived to see the day.
Amn't I right, Brendan?
Modern conveniences,
properly supervised and used
for the right purpose, can be
a great help to our people.
- Isn't Brendan sounding more
and more like our beloved
be valera every day, Emmet?
- Ding-dong, ding-dong.
Look at that. Magic.
- Bless me, father,
for I have sinned.
It's been three weeks since
my last confession, father.
I took the name of the
lord in vain... Many times.
I was late for mass last Sunday.
- For your penance,
say three hail Marys.
- Sorry, father.
I'm not finished yet.
- Oh, I'm terribly
sorry. Carry on.
- Bless me, father,
I have sinned.
It's been a week since
I've been in confession.
I said a bad word three times.
- Momento. Per favore. Um...
What we have to remember
about gregorian chant
is its utter majesty. It's
done with love. Amore.
- It's done with affection. Afecto.
- Afecto.
- So let's go at it
again. One more time.
- So are you expecting the good
- news soon then, father?
- I am, miss Courtney.
- Please god.
- Please god.
- Would you like to come along, father?
- I will.
Your grace. I trust
that everything is still
in order for my return
to Rome. Yes, Rome, father.
Do you really want
to go back there?
- I'd dearly love to
complete my thesis
on Saint John of the cross.
- You were happy enough
to leave Rome at the time.
"A dolt of an Italian brought
right in over your head."
- Isn't that what you told me?
- I hope I didn't
put it like that. In any
case, I've been here
for three years, your grace.
- Being an Irish parish
priest is not a penance.
- I'm sorry.
- You consider yourself to be
- an intellectual, don't you?
- Well...
- You do, and you are. A
cut above US plain muck
- savages. - No, no, your grace.
- Oh, yes.
I'm sorry, father Barry.
It's going to take longer
than I thought. They're
a law unto themselves
over there in the
Vatican. In the meantime,
help me to build a new
church in your parish.
- A new church?
- Yes, it's time. - Holy Trinity
could use some
repairs, but it's still
a magnificent old...
- Oh, it's not worth doing up.
Better to start anew.
You should be very good
with money, father,
having spent 20 years
in america. Did you
not pick up the knack?
Picture it, standing
tall and majestic.
The biggest building
in the whole town.
Thank you, Sean. This
is what needs to happen
with every parish
in the diocese.
Let US give lie to the notion
that our country is stagnating.
I see a vibrant, holy
nation on the move.
- How much have you raised, father Keenan?
- £4,860.
- It's a start.
- Very good. Very good. Ned?
Now then, we need to
get going on the funds.
This raffle will
get you started.
Once you start the
fund-raising, it'll snowball.
And Rome will be there for you
- after the job is done.
- Father Barry.
Have we forgotten something?
- If you were to ask for my
opinion, I would say that Rome
is too far away and that
you've been there before.
But that would be me.
Oh, I love raffles.
- Hello.
- Hello, Joey. - Hello.
- Joey.
You look after the shop?
I want to go upstairs
- for a minute, okay?
- Yeah.
- Seems like a very
nice little town.
- Soft enough for you?
- Oh, yes. Yes, it is.
It's fine. I'll take it.
But that's if I get
the job, of course.
- I'll need you to pay weekly.
- Oh, that won't be a
problem. I can give you
- a week in advance.
- Good luck
with the interview
then. Excuse me a minute.
- Thank you.
- What's gonna happen when
daddy comes home for Christmas?
- Where's he gonna sleep?
- Where he always does.
Mr. Lynch won't be here.
He'll go home for Christmas.
I'm sure your father
will be home by then.
You'll be all right.
- Bless me, father, for I
have sinned. It's a week
since my last confession.
I took the lord's name in vain
last Thursday afternoon.
I was envious of my
neighbor's new belongings.
- What sort of belongings?
- An enamel bucket
and a bright red plastic basin.
- Is there anything else?
- Yes.
I committed the sin of pride.
I thought I looked
lovely in my new skirt.
- Do you have any passions, Mr. Devoy?
- Passions?
- Hobbies. - Oh.
- Sport.
- You play hurling, don't you?
- Yes.
- I've had a number of
temporary teaching jobs
in Dublin. I'm
ready for something
- more permanent now.
- And why borris, Mr. Lynch?
- Well, why not, Mr. Mcsweeney?
From what I hear, it's a town
- with a lot going for it.
- You're 27?
- 27 last month.
- You don't look it.
- That's what they tell me.
- And what did you
get up to in Dublin?
Now, that'd be telling.
I have very wide interests,
Mr. Mcsweeney. Music,
sports, the pictures.
Dublin was great
for the pictures. I was
impressed, by the way,
to find out that Rex ingram's
- people came from around here.
- Who? - Rex ingram,
the, famous filmmaker
who went off to Hollywood.
- You know, the protestant
rector's son who went
off to become a director.
- What's your
favorite ingram film?
- Well, I haven't seen them all.
I like the four horsemen of
the apocalypse, of
course, but I have to say
I have a very soft spot
for the prisoner of zenda.
- I think we've heard enough.
- We have indeed.
Congratulations, Mr. Lynch.
- And welcome to borrisokane.
- Thank you.
- I think that was
a bit hasty, father.
Especially as you're
leaving US soon.
- I've decided to stay amongst
you a bit longer,
Brendan. I knew that would
make you happy.
- Miss Courtney
said I'd find you here.
- She thinks I need an audience.
A new lens for the
projector. I wanted to see
how big an image I could get.
The parochial house is not the
- best place to show films.
- And the church is?
Just wanted to say
thanks for the job.
- You settling in all right?
- Yes, thanks.
Very well.
The dome of Saint Peter's.
- Have you been to Rome?
- No. Sorry.
- The Vatican library. I
lived and worked there
for years. The
bishop's decided I'm not
to go back there till I
build a new church here.
- So what's he like, his grace?
- The bishop likes
building new churches.
He has a countryman's
passion for concrete.
- Fontana di trevi.
One of the most beautiful plazas
in the world, I think.
- You know, there's a legend
that if you throw a
coin in the fountain,
- you'll return to Rome one day.
- That's my coin.
- Well, they say the money
goes towards good
works. Well, I'd better be
- getting back.
- All right. Oh,
thanks, once again, father.
- "Most of these Hollywood
stories and the manner of their
telling are alien to our Gaelic
culture and way of life.
Hard work and family commitments
are put aside to give way
to debauchery and sin.
It is therefore of the utmost
importance that we preserve
our own native stories,
customs, and games,
and insofar as possible,
reject the doubtful and often
downright malign influence of
what is not native to US.
Yours sincerely in
Christ, Terence hegerty,
"bishop of the diocese."
The bishop's pastoral will be
published in next
week's paper, of course,
so you may read it in
detail at your leisure.
Now, may I remind you once again
that we are making very little
progress with our building fund
for the new church.
Could you please
give generously today?
Thank you, and god bless.
And now, please
stand for the credo.
- God bless, Catherine.
- Thank you, father.
- Eileen, do you suppose
the electricity supply board
might consider throwing
a few shillings our way
- for the new church?
- I don't know.
I mean, the board gets so many
requests for
sponsorship. They do,
but I'm a great supporter.
In fact, I think sometimes they
should be paying me for
helping sell their cookers
and blessing the power lines.
- I'll inquire, father.
But I can't promise
anything. Thank you, Eileen.
- Tim.
- I enjoyed your film show the other night.
Do you ever think about showing
- your films at the hall?
- What do you mean?
- Well, put them on a double
bill with a good western.
- Good way to pass the winter.
- Kieran, god bless.
- Sorry, father.
- How are you father?
- Hello, John.
- Thanks, father.
- Thank you. Lads.
That's all I've got.
She's taken it all off me,
- father.
- I'll have one ticket, father.
- Thank you, Liam.
- Pity you're not in with
the g.A.A. Crowd, father.
They'd be a great help
- with the fund-raising.
- "Meagher", with a "g."
- No interest in
the game, father?
- They didn't go in for the hurling in Rome?
- No.
- Last priest we had here
was great at the g.A.A.
- Father Malone.
- Thank you, Liam.
- I hear you're not
leaving US after all, father.
- Not for a while.
- Aren't you better off?
Isn't the world outside
our shores in a calamitous
condition these days?
- And what would you know about
- it no more than myself?
- For god's sake,
- would you shut...
- I was able to read the street
signs when we
were over in London.
Didn't have to go
around sniffin' the air
- like a lost mongrel.
- Hey. Who's a lost mongrel?
- You came back home
soon enough with your tail
- between your legs.
- At least I had a good home
- to come back to.
- And so we come to borris...
Where progress
has been rather slow.
- Isn't that so, father Barry?
- It is, your grace.
- So did you get the raffle under way?
- I did.
But it just hasn't
taken off yet.
- Stingy crowd in
borris, are they?
- No, no, your
grace. There just isn't
that much money there.
- But they still want their new
church, don't they?
They do, of course.
- So what other plans have you?
It'll soon be the start of
a new year, and we need to
- keep the momentum going now.
- Pictures.
- You what?
- I was thinking about
- having a picture show... Shows.
- Pictures?
Your films. I see. Father
Barry's a dab hand
with the cine-camera,
a habit he picked up
over in Hollywood, I think.
- Catholic university in.
Washington's hardly
Hollywood, your grace.
- Father Barry spent 20 years
over in the land of the free.
He's a real wayfarer. So
do you think they'll part
with their pennies to go and see
- your little films?
- Oh, not just my films,
your grace. I was
thinking of hiring,
you know, proper films.
- You've read my pastoral
letter on that topic?
- Oh, I have, of course.
- Of course you have.
Well, provided they're
suitable. And now to Clare.
- We'll put a brand-new
modern screen here, of course,
as large as we can fit in.
There'll be rows and rows of
raised seats at the
center... Pullman seats...
The sort you'd find in Dublin,
with aisles on both sides.
- Have you given any thought to
the effect these pictures
will have on people?
- Oh, I have, Brendan.
They'll be a source of
enlightenment and entertainment
- to young and old alike.
- Bishop hegerty might not
agree with you there.
- You shouldn't presume
to know the bishop's mind.
- So this has bishop
hegerty's imprimatur?
- Imprimi protest. Censor
librorum non postulo.
- The bishop is a
plain-speaking man.
- I'll tell him you said so.
- And why is he present?
He's not on the committee.
- No, but it was his idea.
Now, naturally, the projection
room will be up
there. And des, that'll be
your responsibility. And
Willie, you'll be the one
to advise on the building works.
- I have serious moral
objections to this enterprise.
- Would a good confession help?
- There are people in
this town struggling to
put bread on the table,
and what are we offering
them? A picture house.
- The soul is fed by
many things, Brendan.
- I can find ample food for
my soul in the church, father.
- So what do you want to call it?
- The Stella...
- For star.
- You could call it the garden
of Allah in honor of Rex ingram.
Yeah. Is it warm enough?
- Oh, it'll warm up nicely
now. Oh, that's great.
- Hi, auntie Eileen.
- Hiya, Molly.
- What's that yoke?
- An electrical shaving mug.
- What's it do?
- Heats water.
- We're waiting for it to heat up.
- That's all?
- Well, it's not
selling too well.
I don't really know why.
Go on. It's ready now.
- Best shave you've ever had?
- Perfect.
- I'm your auntie's Guinea pig.
- Everyone will soon
have hot water on tap.
Why would you
use a thing like that?
- People like shiny things.
- Well, I suppose it
could come in handy
- if you're out some place.
- Like where?
Out in the fields? You
just plug it into a rock?
- I better go. I might
take you with me next
time I'm trying
to sell that thing.
See you later, Molly.
Come on, Joey, you come with me.
- How does it
work, auntie Eileen?
- I don't understand.
- What?
- In nomine patris, et
filii, et spiritus sancti.
Congratulations, Brendan.
We might be seeing you in
the national parliament
soon. That'll be the will
of the people, father.
The will of the people,
- of course.
- And the will of god.
All I know is that the place
is in sore need of stewardship.
That'll be the cornerstone
of my election campaign. Father.
- If you pledge a regular
amount, you'll be a sponsor
with your name in the program.
- And that's good for business.
- All proceeds
- go to the cinema fund?
- They do.
- Put me down for
one pound ten shillings.
So we'll see what happens.
- You're a hard woman, Sally.
- I'd need to be, father.
You'd do well to be a
bit cautious yourself.
- Thank you, and god bless.
- God bless.
- Brendan, this is Sean
I was telling you about,
Sean o'Flaherty.
- Michael, how are you?
- Hello, father.
- Good to see
you. Stephen, is it?
- It is, father.
- Oh, right.
Could you afford to make a small
donation to the
cinema fund, please?
- Ladies. May I have this dance?
- You may.
- Two lemonades.
We have glasses.
No need to dirty another pair.
- Do you have real
drink under that counter?
- I think you've
had enough already.
- You think you're
something, don't you?
Better than the rest of
US? Now that the priest
is getting you to show films.
- Glad you could take the time
- to join US, Brendan.
- People don't have much to
- give these days.
- It's a means to an end.
- Is this how you
got round the bishop?
- Do you see Maureen O'Connell
making eyes at everyone?
- Eileen, would you like to dance?
- Yes, please.
- Molly, will you mind it?
- Look who Eileen's with
over there.
- I hear from my son
that you're a good teacher.
We labor for life in a
small, country town.
Look ahead 10
years, 20, 50 even.
They say the world
might end in the year 2000.
But if it doesn't, what'll
this town be like then?
It's in our power to shape it.
We need young men like you.
Would you ever think
of joining the party?
- What's brought
this on, Brendan?
- I think you could go far.
That Eileen, she's
a nice girl. Bright.
But she needs to
settle down soon.
- I bet now you'd rather be at
home listening to Renata tebaldi
singing on your gramophone.
- It's been a great night.
- Between you and me,
I'd swap it all for a
few bars of Artie Shaw.
- Jazz! That's a matter
for confession, Tim.
- £850? We've barely £270
in the restoration fund,
and Brendan mcsweeney isn't
going to let US touch
that without a fight.
- I mean, £800...
- £850, des.
Don't be afraid to say
it. If we don't move now,
we won't be open for
easter. And of course,
there will be ample
opportunity to show films
of an educational nature...
Handcrafts, beekeeping,
butter-churning,
safety first, and so on.
The Stella will be a
fount of knowledge.
- And what about the
filth and immorality, father?
- There'll be
none of that, Julia.
- Well, I think we
should give it a chance.
- All I'm saying is, once
something like that is turned
on, it's hard to turn off.
- Brendan is
against it, isn't he?
- I'm saying what I
think myself here now.
It's nothing to do with Brendan.
- Sure, we'll know soon enough
if we're being corrupted...
- By the beekeeping films.
- It's not films about
beekeeping that they're
queuing up to see in nenagh.
- Here, on the edge of Europe,
on the edge of the
world, the people of aran
live and praise his name,
daily putting
their trust in god.
- This is a sacred place.
- The bishop sent it down.
Thought father might consider
- opening the Stella with it.
- I'm giving it
- serious consideration.
- That's the last
- of the Italian coffee now.
- Aye.
- Thank you, miss Courtney.
- You still want to
- go back to Rome?
- Untouched by the changes that
make our world more
dangerous by the day.
This happy, holy
community show US what...
- They made a 28-year-old
the head curator after
I'd been promised that position.
- Try and be like them.
- He was Italian, of course.
- Pray like them.
- Oh, I still have my pride.
- So you kicked up
- a bit of a fuss?
- Oh, I did. And I ended up here.
- The truth is not to be found
in our bright and sinful cities.
- Could have been worse.
- You could have ended up
- in the aran islands.
- The truth is here
amidst this chaste people.
We should strive to make
the whole world like aran.
- It's a pity you didn't devote
more time to the bishop's
pastoral last Sunday.
- People can do
that for themselves.
- As you well know, the
majority, unfortunately,
are either too illiterate
or too indolent to sit down
and read an important
document like that.
- The people need to
be educated, to be told.
After hundreds of years of
foreign occupation, we finally
have the freedom to fashion a
country of our own making.
Safe and self-sufficient.
- Saint Patrick would have had
- a hard time with you.
- Saint Patrick?
- Wasn't he an outsider?
- Saint Patrick wasn't trying
to sneak in Hollywood filth.
You need to get
the people fired up.
They're crying out
for a guiding light.
- "The light of hope,
the glorious future
that belongs to you,
to me, to all of US."
- Saint Francis of assisi.
- Charlie chaplin,
the great dictator.
- Come on, let's
go see the tree.
It's huge, isn't it?
- Very christmassy.
Love the tree, by the way.
- Thank you.
- I hope it's all right,
me sticking around
through the holidays.
- Well, your mother'll be
disappointed you didn't
get home for Christmas.
- Oh, she'll be grand.
What with my sisters, cousins,
aunts, there'll be no
room for me anyway.
♪ The wren, the wren ♪
♪ the king of all birds ♪
♪ Saint Stephen's day ♪
♪ was caught in the furze ♪
♪ up with the kettle ♪
♪ and down the pan ♪
♪ give me a penny ♪
♪ to Bury the wren ♪
♪ if you haven't a penny ♪
♪ a 'penny will do ♪
♪ if you haven't a 'penny ♪
♪ god bless you ♪
- You make a fine
looking pair, Molly.
- So what happened to Jimmy?
- Typical of him
not to turn up, not
even for Christmas.
- Joey, are you there?
Maybe he'll be home for easter.
- Hello, father.
- God bless the work.
Remember, man, thou art dust,
and unto dust thou shalt return.
Remember, man, thou art dust,
and unto dust thou shalt return.
- Doesn't it look great?
- What about the holy
oils while you're at it?
I can't keep anointing you for
the same illness, Peggy.
- But it's a different
illness this week, father.
- Okay, so nonie,
here's the on switch.
And there's six
different heat levels.
One being the lowest;
Six being the highest.
- It's very simple.
- Try it so.
- Well, now, we have to
wait till Gerry's finished
- connecting the wires.
- All done.
- You're now connected
to the national grid.
- Oh, no. Let father
Barry be the one.
And say a prayer now
before you do it, father.
- I've nothing prepared. Um...
Grant, o lord, we beseech thee,
- that the light enter in this...
- No, no, father.
Speak your lovely Latin.
- Gloria patris, et filio, et
spiritui sancto, sicut erat in
principio, et nunc, et semper
et in saecula
saeculorum. Amen. Amen.
- Are we ready? Click!
- Is there really
another life, father?
- Oh, Peggy, of course there is.
- Well, what is heaven?
- Why, heaven
- is the face of god.
- And where is it?
We know where we are.
But we don't know where
we're going, isn't that it?
- Grab it. I dare you.
- No, I can't. - Do it!
- Joey's afraid.
- Leave me alone.
- What'll you do about it?
Do you think your daddy
in London will hear
you if you shout?
- It has to go all the way...
- Yeah.
- And is this then, a banner?
- ♪ La da-da di da ♪
- Lads, come on.
- Thank you, Willie.
God bless, man.
- Come on, Frankie, let's go!
- What's this?
- My daddy used to
work here too, you know...
Before he went to
england. He made things
no one else could.
- Can I go now?
- You can. But you may have to
become a priest
now. If the hat fits.
- But it didn't fit.
And I'm only nine.
- I wasn't much older than you
- when I got the call.
- Who called you?
- Well, who do you
think? Himself, of course.
- Well, how'd you
know? Did you see a light
- or something?
- Oh, no, no light. Just happened.
- But I knew. - Father.
- Thanks, lads.
- Was your mommy happy
when it happened? She was,
- of course.
- Did you hear a voice? - I did...
- In a manner of speaking.
- In your head?
- From inside me, yes.
- Well, what did it say?
- What did what say?
- The voice from inside you.
- It said, "come, follow me."
But it was the voice of
god, all right. Let's go.
- All right, we'll walk
it in. Whoops. Gently.
- Now... - Say the word.
- It's now or never.
Soon your... your fridge will be
there, your washing
machine here, your electric
clothes dryer over there,
and a hoover under
the stairs. Invisible heat.
Constant. Always
under control, sure.
And that's the beauty
of it. Isn't it great that
- we've seen the day?
- You play outside, Joey.
- Well, thanks a million, des.
- Any time.
Come on, son. You can
help me carry this stuff
around to the hall.
Hold the door open for me there.
- Well, how do I look?
- Perfect. Jane Wyman in
all that heaven allows.
I didn't see that one.
It makes everything
else in here look so old.
- Does that include me?
- Maybe not you.
I want it all... Now.
A fitted kitchen
like you'd see in a picture.
It sounds silly, doesn't it?
Dreaming of an electric house,
and look at the state I'm in.
- Last year, before
you, before all of this,
I was perplexed at what the
- future might hold for me.
- Oh, bishop hegerty's
- new church?
- Do you ever wonder if you
chose the right
path in life, Tim?
- Every morning when
I face the little monsters.
You see, you're allowed
to say that. I'm not.
- Brendan has won the election.
- His election speech.
- Tea, gentlemen?
- "I want to make education
and the moral welfare
of our young people
my number one priority.
I'm referring now to a misguided
plan to open a picture
house, spearheaded by
a member of the
clergy. Precious time
and scarce resources
"are being wasted on..."
- Et cetera, et cetera.
- I have had complaints
from some of the parents.
I have to remain neutral,
not antagonize any
section of the community.
- You have to stand up
to cretins like Brendan.
- It's not that simple.
- It is.
- I'm sorry, Tim, but
it's not. It never was.
Father, if you could maybe
try to bring him on side
before he gets to the bishop.
- How blind can people be?
Electing someone
like that to high office?
It'd make you question
the very idea of democracy.
- People like Brendan
capitalize on fear.
- The people, they're
afraid of everything.
There's not a grain of
confidence left in the country.
But you're still more
powerful than he is, Daniel.
You have the
authority of the church.
That's still the last word.
- It's about
responsibility, Tim.
It isn't about
authority. But it is.
You're the parish priest.
You can do whatever you like.
- Bless me, father, for I
have sinned. It's a week
since my last confession.
I took the lord's name
in vain last Thursday.
I was late for mass on
Sunday. I lost my temper...
- Father.
- Good day, father.
- Thank you very much.
- You're most welcome.
- You had no business saying
that in your election speech.
- I'm not without
influence, father.
You shouldn't dismiss
people like me too lightly.
Power's a very fragile thing.
It can slip away when
you least expect it to.
- Is that a threat, Brendan?
- Can you not see
that we're on the same side?
You've had three long years to
establish your authority here.
You have singularly
failed in that task.
You leave me no alternative
but to bring the matter
to the attention of the bishop.
- You may bring the matter
to the attention of
the pope, for all I care.
- The bishop is a man who cares
about the moral well-being
of the Irish people.
- I've spoken to them in Dublin
- about the projector.
- Don't tell me
they don't have one!
- Oh, they have one, all right.
But he's wanting
payment. Half now, and half
- when it's delivered.
- There's no trust left
- in the country.
- It's more than we have
in the account, father.
- Then we'll take it out of
the church restoration fund.
We'll put it back
later, with interest.
It would be open every night
of the week, with a matinee
on Saturday and Sunday.
It might even help keep
them out of the pubs.
And do you know how much
the ormond in nenagh
brings in every week?
- All I know about the ormond
is that I have to check the
paper every week to make sure
they don't show any filth there.
- You won't have that problem
- with the Stella, your grace.
- And they're for
- this picture house, your flock?
- Oh, they are.
- The majority.
- Oh, majorities, minorities.
That sort of language
is not within our realm.
- Your grace, most of the Irish
people are still a hair's
breath from paganism.
- And a picture house will make
- them more... god-fearing?
- In a strange sense,
it could, yes. As
a modern tool...
To help civilize them.
- Mind you don't
break that statue.
- I won't break it.
- I think I have a calling.
- What?
- From the holy ghost.
I want to be a priest.
I'll hear your confession.
That's the first duty
of a newly ordained priest.
- I think that's communion
you're thinking of.
- I'll hear your confession.
Too. You will not.
Joey, you're nine years
old. How can you know
what you want to
be? What put all this
- into your head?
- I heard a voice inside me.
- What am I gonna do with you,
- What's wrong with you, des?
- This is perfect.
- Don't make it look
too perfect now.
- Jimmy.
- Who's this?
- How did you get here?
- Got to Dublin yesterday.
- Got a lift down.
- I'm Tim. - Are you?
- It gives me great pleasure to
announce that we have
raised £108, 4 shillings,
- and 7 pence here tonight.
- What the fuck
- is all this about?
- Which brings our cinema fund
to over £1,200. We're
well on course to open the
Stella on easter Sunday
night, please god.
- Saw they're closing them down
in London, cinemas.
TV is the big thing now.
17-inch.
- We're going home.
- Tim is staying with US.
- Is he? - He's a lodger.
- I'm a schoolteacher.
- A lodger? We don't
have room for lodgers.
- I had to make room,
Jimmy. I needed the money.
- The prodigal, the return.
Welcome back then,
James. Good to see you.
- You're coming with me.
- Jimmy!
- Why didn't you tell me about this?
- Tell you?
I didn't even have an
address for you for months.
- I knew the minute I walked
- in the door and saw you.
- Knew what?
- That you shamed me in there,
- talking about money. - I...
- How long has he been
- fuckin' ridin' you?
- I think we better
get you home now, James.
- Are you staying with her too?
- You've no right to be
carrying on like this,
Jimmy. There's nothing...
- Get Dr. Brady down here!
- I'm all right.
- You're back two minutes,
and look what you done.
- Look at the cut of you!
- Fuck off, you!
- Oh, lovely, the Teddy
boy language and all.
- Come on.
- I don't want to go home with a whore.
- Go home with
your wife now, James.
- You can't tell me what to do.
I'm not afraid of
priests anymore...
Or sour old craw-thumping cunts!
- Get him out of here.
- Fuck the lot of you!
- I met nonie Cassidy
in the shop, father.
She says Peggy's not the best.
- Wants you to go down and see her.
- Not now.
- Well, your anointing oils.
- Father, father! Bishop
hegerty's on the phone.
- Thank you. Yes, your grace.
- Father, what about Peggy?
- Father.
- What did I tell you, des?
Bye-bye, picture house.
- Des!
- Are you all right there, Larry?
- Look at that lunatic!
He's turned into a lunatic.
- I'd say mcsweeney
blew it all out of...
- Oh, never mind mcsweeney.
the most powerful
man in that community.
Your authority must be
unquestioned. Unquestioned!
You told me the cinema would
have a civilizing influence.
Instead, we have chaos.
Now, I've been told that you are
buying magic lantern
machines and spending money
left, right, and center.
All paid for out of the
church restoration fund.
- Yes, your grace.
- How much money have you spent
- on this business so far?
- About £1,000. - £1,000?
- Yes, your grace.
- Do you know how much concrete
we could buy for £1,000?
Do you understand what we are
about at all, father?
This is a constant, never-ending
battle for the control
of hearts and minds.
And it's a battle we could lose.
Maybe not today,
not tomorrow, but...
We have to keep one step
ahead of them all the time.
- Poor Peggy's gone.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb...
- I'm so sorry for
your trouble, nonie.
- Too late now, father.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Glory be to the
father, and to the son,
and to the holy spirit.
- As it was in the beginning.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Hail Mary, full of grace
the lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of god,
pray for US sinners now
and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
- Our father, who art in
heaven, hallowed be thy name.
- Jeremiah will be one
of how many other boys?
- 12.
- 12 new priests. How exciting.
- Is this Jeremiah?
- No, father. That is Daniel.
- What do you want, Daniel?
- Nothing father.
- Well, away with you then.
- Will ye settle down, will ye?
Today we will talk
about viking longships
coming towards shore,
filled with armed men. No.
Let me see. Oh, yes.
Today we will talk about
picture houses and
how to be a whore.
Hand me that chalk.
Well, to be a
whore in this town,
you have to be Joey's mommy.
- Slap!
- Get back to your seat!
- Stop it. You're murdering
it! Can you not listen
to one another? Can you
not do it for each other?
Can you not do it for me?
Can you not hear
yourself, Julia?
- We're clearly not good
enough for you, father.
Oh, and father... Did you
hear your teacher friend
got the sack today?
- Is it true, Emmet?
- Yes, father.
- You had no right to do that.
- With respect...
- I am the chairman
of the school board.
No one is dismissed
here without my approval.
- It was an emergency meeting.
We tried to find you,
but... Brendan mcsweeney...
- That craw-thumping
ignoramus has no authority
to dismiss anyone. Tim,
go back to your classroom
- with my apologies.
- Father...
- I will not see an innocent
man's name discredited
by a spineless coward!
- With respect, father,
I don't think this is wise.
- Come in.
- Thanks for standing
up for me like that.
Been a strange few months.
You never know the way
things are gonna turn out.
I've been very happy here. I...
Living there, with her...
- She really didn't believe
at all. Peggy Cassidy.
All the years, all the
prayers. It was only fear.
- What I'm trying
to say, Daniel, is...
- That young priest in Rome
who was promoted
above me, he was, in fact,
a brilliant scholar.
But my pride wouldn't
allow me to admit that.
God forgive me, I hated him
for his youth, his clarity.
And I know I'm mocked
behind my back here for my Latin
and my lingua italiana.
They think it's all a
put-on, but it isn't.
I was taken out of the world
when I was 12 years of age.
This is such a
desperate place, Tim.
I thought it might
be real in some way.
But it's just damp and
poor in every sense.
I don't know what would have
become of me if you
hadn't been here this winter,
to have someone to talk with.
At that time, Jesus crossed to
the far shore of the sea of
galilee and a great
crowd followed him.
Then he went up on a
mountainside and sat
down with his disciples.
The Jewish passover
festival was near.
When Jesus looked up and saw a
great crowd coming
towards him, he said to Philip,
"where shall we buy bread
for these people to eat?"
Philip answered him, "it..."
Philip answered him, "it
would take more than..."
Recently, someone asked me
"where is heaven, father?"
I told them that heaven
was the face of god,
but I knew that they were
looking for something
more familiar, a place.
We seek comfort in
what is known, it seems.
And sure, didn't our
savior himself tell US that,
"in my father's house,
there are many mansions"?
For my own part, I believe that
heaven dwells in our
humanity. And that is why
it is so wrong to judge others.
There is a young man here among
US who was recently
scandalized by idle gossip.
This is the sort of rash
judgment that tears apart
the fabric of a community
and that... that makes
US distrust one another.
- What's he on about?
- Then slowly but surely, we
begin to see clearly the simple
fault in our neighbor while we
remain blind to the great
fault within ourselves.
- It's like watching
a man hang himself.
- And...
- That's Tim? They sacked him
- because of that fight?
- The thing is,
- Jimmy was right.
- Right? About what?
What are you trying
to tell me, Molly?
- I think I fell in love with him, Eileen.
- Tim?
- Does he know about this?
- Of course, he does.
- We...
- Oh, god. Oh.
Joey. Where is he?
- Change is coming
to this country, Daniel.
Our holy church will not be
in second place much
longer. Believe me now.
You will have great power
and influence in
this land very soon.
Father Daniel Barry.
- I'm very sorry. I'm
not hearing confessions
- right now.
- I'm not here for confession.
- Please, go away, Brendan.
- I don't know where
your place is in the world,
but it isn't here, father.
You don't know US.
You don't know what we need.
For three long years, I have
tried to explain my people's
wants and needs to
you. I foolishly thought
we were on the same side.
I could have been the saving
of you if you took my advice.
You have put yourself above
the needs of your people!
Go home. There
is no priest here.
- Come on. - Watch your back.
- Aye, I will.
- Well, if it isn't
sergeant warden.
You better step
inside or you'll get wet.
- I am wet.
- If you're looking for the
- captain, he isn't here.
- And if I'm not
- looking for him?
- He still isn't here.
- Well, I'm looking for
him. You know where he is?
- I haven't the slightest idea.
Perhaps he's in
town on business.
That's the way you put
it the other day, isn't it?
That's what I like about you,
sergeant, you have confidence.
It's also what I
dislike about you.
- It's not confidence,
ma'am, it's honesty.
I just hate to see a beautiful
- woman going all to waste.
- Waste, did you say?
There's a subject I might
tell you something about.
I know several kinds of waste.
- Has anyone seen Joey?
- No, I haven't.
- You're probably not even
remotely aware of some of them.
- Would you like to hear?
- Joey?
- For instance, what about the
house without a child?
There's one sort for you.
Then there's another.
What are you doing?
- I'm leaving. Isn't
that what you want?
- I don't know,
sergeant. I don't know.
- I tried talking to
Daniel. I tried to tell him.
- He just kept talking about himself.
- He knows.
- We was just testing the projector.
- Des!
What are you doing? Des,
shut down the projector.
And who was it who
opened the cinema?
- Well, the seats were
delivered, and they sent
a roll of film down
to test the projector.
- I'm sorry.
- Let's go up to Mrs. Kipper's
parlor and sit there. She
lets US use it sometimes
- for somebody special.
- Been sacked.
- So you want to leave?
- I've lost my job.
- So you want to leave?
- My daddy had to leave
because he stabbed
Mr. Lynch. Is that true?
- He was drunk,
Joey. He didn't know
- what he was doing.
- Well, that's it now, so he's
- never gonna come home again.
- Joey!
- What are they doing?
- They're kissing!
- You are breaking the law
of god and man by watching
- that rancid abomination!
- I never knew
- it could be like this.
- Shut it down now!
- Nobody ever kissed
me the way you do.
- The world outside our holy
and beleaguered
island is going to hell!
- And now you can see why.
- Not even one?
- Elizabeth Taylor!
- Turn it off!
- We must keep storming heaven
to combat the evil American
filth lapping like a mad
dog at sacred shores.
- It's Deborah kerr,
not Elizabeth Taylor!
- Shut it down!
- Joey?
- Joey? Joey?
- Yes, father?
He didn't even bother
to come home and see me
when he came home last time.
He just got into fights
and said, "fuck it,"
- and walked away to england.
- You're upset now,
but you shouldn't use
that sort of language.
- He used to work here once.
- I know he did.
And he used to make things
- that no one else could make.
- No, he couldn't.
Mr. Dillon had to sack him
because of his drinking.
Even Frankie says that,
- and it's true.
- Shall we go home now?
- What did you hear when god
asked you to be a priest?
- Well... God never asked
me to be a priest, Joey.
- You were lying?
You weren't called?
- I was called, all
right, but not by god.
- Well, I'm not lying.
I've heard the voice
- of the holy ghost.
- Joey.
- I'm going to be a priest.
And I'm going to stop
people doing bad things.
Credo in deum
patrem omnipotentem.
- Joey, listen to me.
That is not the right thing
- for you to do now.
- It is. And it would be a sin
- for anyone to stop me.
- No, Joey. - Joey? Joey.
Thank you for finding
him, father. Come on.
- Don't worry, mommy,
everything's gonna be
all right now.
- But you said Jeremiah had
been called by the holy ghost.
- Well, the holy ghost
has changed his mind.
- I think that perhaps you
might have known all along that
- it was you being called, Daniel.
- No. I didn't.
- Well, it's all settled now.
I need Jeremiah to help
me run the business.
- I think that deep down,
Daniel, you always knew it.
I can almost see the holy spirit
shining from your face.
I'm sure you can feel it.
You will be so special.
There is no greater love than
that of a people
for their priest.
And you'll make me the
happiest mother in Ireland.
- Thurles has a very
busy little cinema.
Average take there
is about £150 a week.
Roscrea, the classic. £200.
- And the ormond in nenagh?
- Oh, they do best of all.
- Average weekly take there is over £300.
- What?
- Sometimes more,
depending on the film.
- Will that be all, your grace?
- No.
Get me father Barry
down here now.
I have a cousin who
has a diocese in america.
Long beach. I was
out there to visit him
in the summer.
Aren't supermarkets
extraordinary in
the states, father?
- Oh, now, Rome shrinks
when you walk into a
supermarket in California.
Maybe a stained
glass window here,
to catch the morning light.
Not much ornamentation.
It should be imposing,
yet functional. Modest
in a majestic sort of way.
- More le corbusier
than Michelangelo then.
- You what? Nothing, just...
I think I know exactly
what you want, your grace.
Yes. Yes. I suppose
you're wondering
why I asked you to come here.
You may remember a while
back, talking to me about
illumination, tools to
civilize your pagan flock.
- Oh, well, I don't...
- I think I get your logic
now. Maybe we're closer
to them buckos in Hollywood
than we care to admit.
Your picture house
might be just the thing
in the current climate.
We need to keep one step ahead
- of them all the time.
- Ahead of who?
- The world, father
Barry, the world.
The dark forces of secularism.
This will be the gable.
Chancel there. Nave here.
High altar there.
And father Barry's
little picture house
will pay for all of this.
- Are you nearly there, Willie?
- Yep, I've just finished here.
I'll be finished here in a.
- Minute and I'll get it then.
- Hello, Molly.
- How's Joseph?
- He'll be grand. Thanks.
- About him wanting
to become a priest.
- I just want him to be happy.
- He's far too young
to know, Molly.
- I'm not going
to fight with him.
- I never knew what to say to
my parents when they came
to visit me in the
seminary. I just wanted them
to take me home. They
sat there and talked about
the changing of the seasons.
By my second year, we were
already lost to each other.
I never should
have come back here.
- You wanted to come home?
- I did.
- I'm not sorry it happened.
It gets so dark and
lonely here in the winter.
I shouldn't be saying
any of this to you.
- No, maybe you shouldn't.
- I know you wouldn't
- understand, but it was love.
- How do you know
I wouldn't understand?
- I'm talking about real love
that two people can feel
on this earth. I don't...
- I don't mean god's love.
- Neither do I.
- It's what's
missing in this place.
It's what's missing in
this whole bloody country.
- In the evening of life,
we will be judged by
love... And by love alone.
- Who said that?
- A lonely old Saint.
A recommendation. A good one.
- I wasn't expecting that. Why?
- You know very well
it's impossible to get a job
- without it.
- That's true. Maybe I wasn't cut out
for the teaching.
There's a local election
coming up down my
way. I thought I might
throw me hat in the ring.
- You think a politician's
life will suit you?
- Won't know till I try.
You should go to Rome
next winter or somewhere
where there's light.
I would, if I was you.
Good-bye, Daniel.
- God bless.
- Bishops don't
bless picture houses.
Did you ever hear
of one doing it?
- He's a bishop. He
can bless anything
he feels like blessing.
- Well, if the bishop's there,
- you have to be there.
- I know. One day,
they'll see their folly.
- Will it be a cowboy film?
- Shut up!
- Bless this building
and all those who use it.
And Grant that the
activities that take place here
will build up a spirit of order
amongst the community
and lead to the well-being
of all our citizens. In
the name of the father,
and of the son, and of the
holy ghost. Amen. Amen.
- Well done, father.
- Father Barry!
- Well done, father.
- Oh, what is it?
- Aren't you gonna go
- round Columbus circle?
- What for?
- Oh, to see it.
- It? - That's what
- this whole date's about.
- What?
- What I've got that you want.
- I give up.
- It's Gladys glover.
- No kidding?
- Hello. Joseph, welcome.
- Thanks, father.
- Sorry we're late, father.
- That's all right.
- Everything all right? Sure.
Just stepped out for a bit.
So are you winning them over
out there along the
dark and rural byways?
- I think so. Slowly but surely.
- Mom, it's started.
- It's a hard old slog.
It'll happen, Eileen.
It's hard to argue against the
- brilliance of a 60-watt bulb.
- That's true.
- Come on. - Okay, Joey.
- Are you going back in?
- I think I remember
how this one ends.
I'll see you later.