For Gods sake, The priest is not a child molester! Why does everyone keep saying that? When two people have consensual sex, morality does not come into it. I don't get this whole new hatred and paranoia if two inter-generational lover decide to express their desires sexually? All love is the same, emotional blackmail, games and little tiffs are always involved, whether one partner is 13 or 33, does not in the end matter so much. Upon seeing this film I felt that the priest had some admirable traits and was basically a good Samaritan caught up in a web of politics and mafia. When his enemies chance upon his sexual preference (and the fact that he as a catholic priest had sex)they use it as a tool to sideline and destroy his reputation. I felt that the film, far from being some moral conundrum is actually a good attempt at showing the hypocrisy of the times we live in. One thing though, the acting (having been done by obvious non-pros) is about average.

"Sacred silence" reminds me of grainy, gritty black and white neo-realist Italian movies of the 1950' and 60'. It has the same natural, almost documentary quality, like filming life itself. The people in this movie are hardened, with worn and deeply lined faces. Their lives are nothing but hard work and barely getting by. Even the hero of this story, priest with courage to fight the gangs of Napoli is a sinner. He manipulates Nunzio, the 13-year old with the soul of 25-year old, into sexual relationship. This movie dares to tell us a story about a child molester who has some admirable qualities. He isn't just some devious animal who corrupts the innocents, but he is much more complex, as most of human beings are. In the end you feel morally appalled by his actions and in the recesses of your soul even little sorry for him. Brave and powerful movie that clings to us long after we've seen it.

Others have the spoilers already, so I'll try to make this a different thing: Nunzio is almost fourteen and really handsome. He sings for TV and a record company. He plays the organ at the local parish. He's the current lover of Father Lorenzo.Lorenzo is a priest that fights the Camorra. He opens the doors of his church for the ones who need it.The Sanità neighbourhood is as violent as it comes.Naples is under siege by the same kind of violence the Camorra has always been praised for... the southern version of the Mafia.Capuano, who wrote and directed this and his previous film, does an amazing job. Each character has the depth needed to understand the surroundings and the sad situation of a troubled neighbourhood in one of the world's most controversial cities.He shows the power of many things that are not a standard for us, and maybe because of that, we don't understand. Examples of his Latin creativity and point of view, are the silent scenes that were shot hand-held where most of the murders are shown. The delicate way of portraying a difficult subject. The utter precision and realism of Catholic rituals with his own amendments.The underlying truth of life in Naples through brief but poignant phrases. The political situation that still runs in Naepolitan life. The words used in the songs Nunzio sings. The terribly painful reality of lives that struggle with everyday life where the "bosses" roam seldom leaving society unscathed.The really peaceful moments you can rob Naples just walking a few blocks away from downtown knowing that the sea is for you.The switching from dialect to language on the fly when you have both parties at the same table. The small talk on coffee as is in real life, everyday in Naples... and the bursting city that is always on the brink of something, under the clouds of mighty Vesubius.A film which stares inside the people who know the main character. All in all, a very Italian film with a lot to learn from. Don't miss the rest of Capuano's films!

Father Lorenzo Borrelli's church is located in the Sanita quarter of Naples, one of the worst neighborhood in the city. Father Borrelli has seen enough death among the young people that are recruited by the Camorra, the local mafia, that is behind most of the crimes committed in Naples. This righteous man's voice speaks against all the injustices he sees stemming from the evil doings of the Camorra, yet Father Lorenzo is a man that hides a dark secret in his heart: he is gay and a pedophile.Into this milieu arrives Nunzio Pianese, a young boy in Father Lorenzo's confirmation class. Nunzio, himself, is a young man that is different from the other hoodlums running around in this dangerous part of Naples. Nunzio, who has a beautiful voice, is seen as he sings for one of the local stations; he loves interpreting those romantic ballads that are so Neapolitan.Perhaps it's inevitable that Lorenzo and Nunzio will become lovers. After all, Lorenzo has had another long term affair with the handsome Gigi, who is older now. Gigi must see in Nunzio what he went through during the times he had sex with the priest. At the same time, Father Lorenzo is never seen threatening Nunzio, as it appears their relationship is mutual.The Camorra wants to get to Father Lorenzo in any way it can. They choose to work through Nunzio because the young man is vulnerable where the priest is resolute. The priest has two strikes against him, he is opposing the local mafia, plus his homosexuality, if known, will certainly destroy his reputation, and it will mean the bad guys have won the struggle while they sideline their opponent.Antonio Capuano directed and wrote the screen play of this film. He uses a ploy to have the different characters in the movie introduce themselves giving us, the viewers, a bit of information as to where, and when they were born. This aspect doesn't do much to advance the story, something we found a bit distracting.The acting in general, by non professional actors, fits the movie well. Mr. Capuando sets the action for his film in the streets of the Sanita district. Fabrizio Bentivoglio, is basically the only known face in the large cast. Mr. Bentivoglio shows a great range, as he becomes furious against the Camorra, to a tender side one sees when he is in the company of Nunzio, who he evidently adores passionately. His scenes with Nunzio show a restraint that speaks volumes about the director of the film, Antonio Capuano, who decided not to go for cheap shots. Emanuele Gargiulo is seen as the sweet Nunzio.Antonio Capuano directed the film with an eye for detail, something that his cinematographer, Antonio Baldoni, captured Naples seamy side in all its splendor. Mr. Capuano makes us think about the role of this priest and his church in our society and how a gay man has to live in order to conform to its unspoken rules that discriminate men like Lorenzo to hide behind his role as a priest.