Sins of the Fathers

Rating: 8/10 (17 June 2016)

If there is one thing this brilliantly-crafted film reinforces, it is that freedom of the press is essential for the democratic way of life. It shows that no organisation, even one claiming spiritual high ground, is immune from the law.
"Spotlight" is very similar to "All the Presidents Men" in the way that a small group of reporters pick up the strand of a story and follow it relentlessly until they uncover a larger, uglier truth.
At around the same time as the 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre, the Boston Globe's four strong Spotlight team exposed how the highest levels of the Catholic Church in Boston covered up and protected priests who had molested children. The number of priests involved was disturbing. The Spotlight reporters eventually proved that the senior cardinal had known about these crimes for more than a decade and allowed the moving of the offending priests from parish to parish – where many of them continued to prey on children.
The story is all business, not much about the character's personal lives are shown, except a brief glimpse of Sasha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdam) with her devout Nana. However each character has a well-defined personality from Michael Keaton's low-key, but considered Robbie Robinson to Mark Ruffalo's passionate Michael Renendez. Their reactions vary as they speak to victims and uncover facts that also effect them personally as most of the team were brought up Catholic.
The film has plenty of tension as the reporters follow up each lead and overcome many barriers. The film avoids a sensational approach, letting the facts speak for themselves. It deals with some raw issues in a subtle but effective manner, especially when some of the church hierarchy attempt to convince the reporters that their out of town Jewish editor, Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber), has an agenda for self-advancement and a desire to undermine the church.
The details within the film are still shocking. Here in Australia, the situation was almost duplicated, with members of other churches and institutions also accused of doing the same. This film resonates far and wide.
Like any addiction, admitting there is a problem is the first step to finding a cure; this film may prove to be part of the process that will stop these things happening again.