Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God

MEA MAXIMA CULPA : SILENCE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD

Director : Alex Gibney

Year : 2013

Genre  : Documentary

Rating : ****

Telling one of the most shocking and upsetting stories of abuse in history, 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' is the most important documentary to be made in nearly a decade. Directed by Alex Gibney, the Academy Award winning director of 'Taxi To The Dark Side', 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' recounts a deeply tragic story with care, respect and above all, reverence for it's subject matter. For many, this documentary will be horribly depressing and by the end of the film, I was in tears myself. However, it is a movie that had to be made and in my opinion, 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' should be watched by every person on the planet. Not only does it chronicle one of the sickest and darkest chapters in recent religious history, but also and more importantly, gives a voice to those who do not possess one themselves.

'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' tells the true story of how the Vatican and the catholic church itself covered up decades of sexual abuse by dozens of priests and ministers across the United States. The victims were mostly deaf and therefore, couldn't speak or read and the film shows us not only how the priests got away with such horrific acts, but also how and why the church denied and ignored the rumours for so long. Featuring interviews with actual victims as well as lawyers and psychologists involved in the cases, 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' shows us how some believe that because they have religious hierarchy, they feel they can get away with anything.

 

Alex Gibney has become well known as one of the most important documentary makers working in cinema today. From the Iraq war to various political scandals, Gibney is able to create fascinating and engrossing films without resorting to the overblown stunts of Michael Moore or the philosophical and metaphysical subtext of Werner Herzog. I am a big fan of both Moore and Herzog, but to me, Gibney is one of the only documentary filmmakers who is able to bring absolute truth and honesty to the screen. 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' shows the absolute horrors of sexual abuse and paedophilia and in a time when the media is rife with stories of numerous famous faces being arrested for suspected previous crimes, this film is a depressingly familiar story. While few critics have seen the film as an anti-Catholic agenda, I see 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' as a painfully honest and terrifyingly true documentation of a story that has been shamefully hidden from the public for nearly 40 years. Gibney is not afraid to name names, from the priests and ministers who committed the hideous crimes to the high echelons of the Vatican who disclosed and ignored the allegations and he must commended for having the bravery and conviction to name and shame all those involved. Many filmmakers would be too ashamed and nervous to do this, but 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' is made with such determination and power that Gibney earns the right to do this.

The most heart breaking aspect of 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' are the numerous interviews with the poor, but extremely brave victims, who had to succumb to vicious and sickening sexual abuse for years. Telling their stories in graphic but completely frank ways, Gibney allows them to sign (language) their confessions and hidden truths to an understanding and respectful audience. Clearly emotional and still damaged by their traumatic experiences, Gibney is very understanding and wisely cuts away from the interviewees crying and displaying anguish. Instead of choosing to add subtitles in postproduction so we can understand what they are signing, Gibney uses the voices of celebrities such as Ethan Hawke, Chris Cooper and John Slattery. 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' shows us that sexual abuse can happen to absolutely everyone and the inclusion of these famous voices only add to gravity and the horridness of the crimes, without ever upstaging the victims themselves. They are the 'stars' of 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' and to me, they are some of the bravest people to be ever interviewed for a documentary film.

As well as exploring the crimes committed by the Catholic priests and ministers in the United States, 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' also delves into the inner workings of the Vatican and how it covers up stories to save face. Working through the history of the Catholic church to the present day reign of Ratzinger, 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' tries to explain why and how it covered up decades of hideous paedophilia. Never seeming inflammatory or exploitative, Gibney aims right at the heart of the issues and refuses to pull out the arrow of truth. While Gibney wasn't a victim of these atrocities, he certainly seems to be just as angry and confused as those directly affected and 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' is a calm but extensively thorough look at the dangers of religion, the tyranny of the Vatican and the shameful ignorance of the highest orders of the church.

Despite it's extremely serious subject matter and important messages, 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' was mostly seen on TV., being a HBO project. This is a shame because I feel that the documentary is a vital and necessary piece of work that should have been seen in both the multiplexes and art house theatres. However, while this film made little to no money at all, I have a big feeling that profit was not the first thing going through Alex Gibneys mind while making it. He has told a story that needed to be told and I for one am extremely glad that he did. He has opened my mind to the tyrannical, if not maniacal aspects of religion, the dangers of putting your trust in others and the deep anguish felt by those who are not normally heard. I just hope that the victims shown on screen soon find inner peace and that 'Mea Maxima Culpa : Silence In The House Of God' goes in some way to help them deal with their mental and physical anguish.