Coming out in limited release on April 20, “The Devil and Father Amorth” comes from William Friedkin, director of the celebrated 1973 version of Catholic writer William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist.” Here’s the official synopsis:
Years after he changed the landscape of American filmmaking with 1973’s THE EXORCIST, director, co-writer and legendary storyteller William Friedkin moves from fiction to fact with his new documentary, THE DEVIL AND FATHER AMORTH. What began as a brief conversation between Friedkin and Father Gabrielle Amorth – the head Exorcist for the Diocese of Rome for over 30 years – as two professionals who knew of each other’s work soon transformed into an once-in-a- lifetime opportunity, as Amorth agreed Friedkin could film an exorcism ceremony. It would be the ninth exorcism for a painfully afflicted woman, Cristina (a pseudonym), who had already been under Father Amorth’s care – and it would be filmed by Friedkin alone, with no other crew allowed, no light other than the natural light in the room and a small digital camera-and-mic unit that could capture the ritual and its revelations.
Combining the startling and singular footage from Cristina’s exorcism with interviews from priests and psychologists, neurosurgeons and non-believers, Friedkin guides us on a journey into the twilight world between the boundaries of what we know and what we don’t with a singular and startling guide in the form of the urbane, charming and self-deprecatingly funny Father Amorth, a man who laughs in the face of the Devil both figuratively and literally. Combining Friedkin’s past memories and present observations with archival footage and new interviews – as well as also presenting what may be the only real exorcism ceremony captured on film – THE DEVIL AND FATHER AMORTH is a startling and surprising story of the religion, the ritual and the real-world victims involved in possession and exorcism.
Today, March 20, the official trailer for the film dropped — and among the interviewees is Catholic evangelist and media star, Los Angeles’ own Bishop Robert Barron (doesn’t appear he’s going to become an exorcist anytime soon):
Here’s the official poster:
Interestingly, the producers of this film include LD Entertainment’s Mickey Liddell (“Everwood”) and Chaldean Catholic Pete Shilaimon, the men behind the Biblical drama “Risen,” the faith-based country-music drama “Forever My Girl” — and the Christian-music drama “I Can Only Imagine,” which had a surprising (to Hollywood, anyway) $17M first weekend after its release on Friday, March 16.
Click here for the official Website.
Image: Courtesy LD Entertainment
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