Product: Keeping the Faith (2000)
Rating: 5.0
A refreshing movie about religion
Top to bottom this movie is very good. On its simplest level it is an Arthurian romance (all three characters care deeply about one another and form an odd and dysfunctional love triangle). On this level it is a comedy and a decent movie.At a deeper level it talks about the priests vow of celebacy, a rabbi and a gentile relationship, and how profoundly faith enters the picture for two "young" men (and, indirectly, a young woman) looking for a relationship.My favorite scenes in the whole movie were where the older "spiritual guides" come across as strong mentors rather than stick-in-the-mud characters.Rabbi Lewis: I know, I know, you like to shake things up and that's good, but sometimes people need to feel led instead of pushed.Older priest: That is my recruitment pitch. It makes you feel like a marine. The truth is that no matter what you do in life it is a choice, a choice you make every day. I've been a priest for over 40 years and have fallen in love at least once every decade.These are all refreshing images in a culture increasingly hostile to these two ancient faiths. The characters actually grow and change, find out more about themselves and one another. About the meaning of friendship and honesty.Rabbi Jake: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Do you hear what you are saying? You are complaining that I wasn't sensitive to the fact that my friend, A CATHOLIC PRIEST, might have a CRUSH on my SECRET GIRLFRIEND?!