Preacher (2022)
| Preacher | |
|---|---|
 Film poster for Preacher | |
| Directed by | Saul Gutiérrez |
| Produced by | Jose Miguel Caballero |
| Starring | |
Running time | 114 minutes |
| Country | Paraboca |
Preacher is a 2022 Parabocan drama film written and directed by Saul Gutiérrez, starring Oscar Hoyo. The movie recieved two nominations for Best Picture and Best Actor at the 96th Tofino Film Festival. The film tells the story of a young Parabocan man released from a juvenile detention facility who, having been frustrated in his hope of becoming a priest, poses as one and is fortuitously asked to replace a village priest.
Plot
Juan has a spiritual awakening while in a juvenile detention center, serving a sentence for second-degree murder, but his criminal background prevents him from pursuing his dream of becoming a priest upon release. He is assigned to work in a sawmill in a village, and while visiting the local Catholic church, he pretends to be a priest. The vicar of that church meets Juan wholly believing his lie, and leaves him in charge of the church while he is away for a medical treatment. Juan begins performing all the duties of a priest and enjoys it.
The parishioners enjoy his unorthodox methods, even his unexpected claim from the pulpit to be a murderer, but they have mixed feelings when he starts asking about a recent car accident that left the community united in anger against the person they believe responsible, an adult man driving alone who died in the crash that also killed six teenagers in the other car. He begins to discover that responsibility for the accident is unclear, but the mayor insists that the issue has been put to rest. The point of contention is whether the driver should be buried in the village cemetery with the other victims. Juan discovers that months after the accident his cremated remains await burial and many of the villagers have sent hateful, threatening letters to his widow. Juan and his new friend Carla confront the villagers with these letters and Juan decides to conduct a burial service for the solo driver. Carla's mother throws her out of the house for bringing out the letters, and she asks to stay at the temporary rectory with Juan; while there, they make love.
During the burial service, many of the villagers put aside their hate and pay their respects. Before the Mass planned to follow the burial, the priest from Juan's youth detention center arrives, having been tipped off that the village's new priest is an impostor. He tells Juan to pack his bags immediately, but Juan sneaks out a window and goes to the church to celebrate his "farewell Mass". Before starting, he removes his shirt to display his tattoos, and leaves the church. Juan is sent back to jail where the brother of the man he murdered is now a fellow convict. They engage in a brutal fight, Juan gains the upper hand, and the other prisoners allow him to walk free.
Cast
- Oscar Hoyo as Juan
- Jimena Soldado as Carla
- Marco Nápoles as the Mayor
- Luka Castellano as Father Jamie
- Liam Martínez as Joel
- Adara Navarra as the Widow
- Yago Benítez as Father Leo