The Club

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Alain E @AlainE Jun 17 This is an extraordinary film that deserves to be seen by the current Pope who is educated and intelligent. Of course it is totally against religion, but raises arguments in a respectful way. It touches on the issues of sexual abuse by the clergy that coexisted in the perpetrators with faith in the Lord. I am talking as a lifelong atheist who however have married two Christians and I am aware that we make decisions that do not always conform to a system of thought . The colors look forty years old, but I assume that the effect is intentional. On Prime. See more Claudio C @Claudio666 May 8 El club / The Club (2015) Unpleasant Film (12,432 – 08 May 2026 – Claudio Carvalho) Four former priests and a former nun live in a house maintained by the Catholic Church in La Boca. When a fifth priest arrives at the house, a deranged man offends him outside the house and he commits suicide. The |Church sends an emissary to handle the situation. The first point that calls the attention of the viewer of "El club", a.k.a. "The Club" (2015), is the house kept by the Catholic Church for excommunicated priests. I am not Catholic, but I know that the Church does not maintain houses for people that were not priests anymore. Therefore, the film fails from the premise. It seems that the author has some kind of resentment against the Catholic Church. The plot is unpleasant, but the acting is top-notch. My vote is six. Title (Brazil): "O Clube" ("The Club") My Blog: https://maniacosporfilme.wordpress.com/ See more Renaldo D @RT30888824 09/20/2023 The film is heavy, with a macabre narrative and grotesque scenes. The director did a great job, but it is difficult to watch. See more Rubem N @RT89266584 03/28/2023 It tells a very sadly common story, with simple acting and powerful deliveries. See more 11/15/2021 I never highlight Chilean cinema (my country), sometimes unfairly, but I cannot fail to recommend this film by Pablo Larraín. It has been recognized everywhere (nominated for the Golden Globe). Raw story, beautiful photography and an unbeatable acting choir. This is definitely an excellent example of good Chilean cinema. See more 11/13/2021 An interesting premise for a film, I did read the blurb before watching so in this case had an idea what the film was about beforehand. It seemed like the director both wanted to express a message, about Christianity and the church, presumably based on observation and also just to make an interesting 'good film', he did both to a reasonable, if not excellent degree. It seems quite strange to call this film enjoyable, it's not really the right word, nor is entertaining but it was interesting to watch and had a storytelling quality to it. Obviously some of the dialogue was strong and uncomfortable but there were also some almost comedic scenes - four lonely priests in a rather ridiculous situation watching the greyhound they have trained together from a hill or having genuine pious conversations about God on the beach whilst smoking cigarettes in their woolly jumpers having committed all the evil they had, although I don't think these elements were intended quite as comedy, even the black kind, there was a certain wryness about them. Quite interesting how all the characters were completely screwed up - the four priests, the 'nun', the spiritual director and the child abuse victim, all psychos really, none of whom seemed to realise there was a problem. All the crime they committed and in their own minds all in the name of God and the church. There were obviously strong messages - about sexuality, Christianity, the church ('old' and 'new') and the horrible abuse and corruption which by now is no secret and the effect that has on the victims. Also, on the church's way of dealing with all this - the murder of three innocent dogs and the serious assault on an innocent man just so those priests could 'repent', quite certain that is an intentional analogy of some of the bigger picture workings of the 'church'. As a film it had some good scenes and was shot interestingly - all very grey and bleak and intimate. The end was a little cliche - suddenly they start praying and are 'cured' and the it cuts to the spiritual director leaving the house with his briefcase, they might as well have him walk into the sunset brushing his hands after another job well done, plus we are told they pray and sing twice a day but only at this point in the film are we shown it so that it may have dramatic effect, a little gimmicky. I think this is a good film but not a timeless classic. Overall pleased to have seen it and good to give these obscure films a go. See more Read all reviews

The Club

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