Twist of Faith (2004)

Director:

Kirby Dick

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A man confronts the trauma of past sexual abuse as a boy by a Catholic priest only to find his decision shatters his relationships with his family, community and faith. |

Plot Keywords:

Sexual Abuse | Catholic Priest | Gay Interest | Child Molestation

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Jeff Anderson	...	Himself - Interviewee
Barbara Blaine	...	Herself - SNAP President
David Clohessy	...	Himself - SNAP Executive Director
Sandy Comes	...	Herself
Tony Comes	...	Himself
Wendy Comes	...	Herself
Robert Donnelly	...	Auxillary Bishop of Toledo
Dennis Gray	...	Himself
Catherine Hoolahan	...	Herself - Tony's Attorney
Dennis O'Loughlin	...	Himself
Mike Sallah	...	Himself - Investigative Reporter, Toledo Blade
Jon Schoonmaker	...	Himself
Father John Shiffler	...	Himself - John Charles Shiffler
Matthew Simon	...	Himself
Father Stephen Stanbery	...	Himself (as Father Stanbery)
Claudia Vercellotti	...	Herself
David Yonke	...	Himself - Religion Editor, Toledo Blade

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Brazil:16

Filming Locations:

Dayton, Ohio, USA

Company:

Chain Camera Pictures

Movie Connections:

Featured in "SexTV: Dispensing Morality/Paul Barresi/Twist of Faith (#7.19)" (2005)

Soul destroying

Please read the comments by Roger Brunton in this forum to receive an eloquent view of this film. I quote from him:- "This subject matter shouldn't even exist for it to be brought to people to understand through film" How to describe the devastation of acts of evil committed to another Being? This documentary lets a victim demonstrate the results, the summation of his life-abused into 90 minutes.

Tony Comes starts this diary as a macho Fireman assured of himself. During the film he doubts what is most precious to him. His Sexuality, his marriage, his role as a father and ultimately his religion.

The viewer is a voyeur in what happens 20 years after acts of depravity. Tony cannot hold his marriage together, he is forced into explaining extreme and unfathomable situations to his young children, he is unable to communicate with his son in the way a father should because HE IS A VICTIM, his faith in God is questioned, he is scared of being labelled a "fag" or a "queer."

There are a enough problems in his life that would make him want to quit the course that he is now taking. He is acutely aware to challenge the Catholic Church is a process that will take years and much heartache but a sense of right drives him forward.

There are no happy endings in this film only disgust and resolutions to be vigilant with one's children.

To go back to the quote at the beginning of this review, this difficult piece should not be considered a film, or even a documentary.

It is news.

Our much vaulted media (print and vision) should bring stories like this to our attention so we as people can demonstrate our anger. When "they" talk about it they are more interested in the salacious details. There are more interested in the monster who committed the acts. The people affected are often shifted to the background as "supporting cast." Twist of Faith firmly puts them to the forefront. Not just the victim but his partner, their children and the effect on the wider community.

I believe this film was nominated for an Oscar. Congratulations to the Academy for promoting this film.