French priest tries to block film about child sex abuse

'By the Grace of God' airs in Berlin, breaks silence on sordid goings on within the Church

(Photo Credit: Berlin Film Festival)

Several controversial films are competing for the Golden Bear award at the Feb. 7-17 Berlin Film Festival, including The Golden Glove about serial killer Fritz Honka, but Francois Ozon's By the Grace of God is proving hard for the Catholic Church to stomach.

The French director's unflinching look at the sex abuse scandal that is engulfing the Church focuses on three alleged victims of Lyon priest Bernard Preynat, who reportedly molested over 80 young boys.

It shows the pain they endured in daring to break the silence of this once taboo subject, as cardinal archbishops in the "ultra Catholic" French city turned a blind eye to what was happening.

"When you try to break the silence, there is always resistance," Ozon told Agence France-Presse.

"I don't think this is happening by accident, because it is a film which is trying to break an omerta, and which deals with the silence," he said, adding it must be screened "for the public good."

Preynat is trying to block the movie from getting a full theatrical release in France. He has denied all the charges against him and says the film should not be shown until after his trial later this year.

Lyon Archbishop Philippe Barbarin, whose trial on charges of neglecting to report sex abuse allegations started in Lyon in January, said "errors" were made in handling the Preynat affair, but he also denies all charges.

Five others have been charged in the same case.

Speaking after the movie's premiere on Feb. 8, Ozon discussed working on it secretly for years, the difficulties of drumming up funding, and how he had to be careful filming in Lyon.

"All the church interior scenes were shot in Belgium and Luxembourg," he said. "Lyon is extremely Catholic."

The movie centers around three men – banker Alexandre, creative Francois, and troubled Emmanuel – as they revisit memories of Church excursions, show how the abuse they suffered damaged relations with their families, and press prosecutors to bring Preynat and Barbarin to justice.

If there is a message, it is that victims should not suffer in silence but band together until their voices grow too loud for the Church hierarchy and legislators to ignore.