To Kill a Priest (1988)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(421 ratings)

One of the first films by Polish director Agnieszka Holland to gain international acclaim, this drama is a joint French-American production based loosely on the real-life story of the dissident Polish priest Jerzy Popieluszko. In the early 1980s, as the democracy and labor movement known as… More One of the first films by Polish director Agnieszka Holland to gain international acclaim, this drama is a joint French-American production based loosely on the real-life story of the dissident Polish priest Jerzy Popieluszko. In the early 1980s, as the democracy and labor movement known as Solidarity was challenging Soviet authority in Poland, an outspoken priest, Father Alek (Christopher Lambert), defies martial law and continues to rally followers around the cause of Solidarity. The Soviet-controlled Polish government enlists a police official, Stefan (Ed Harris), to stop the priest. Stefan, a devoted party follower, finds that the only way he can silence Father Alek is to have him killed. Along the way, however, the priest has a profound influence on Stefan. Among those in minor roles are Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Pete Postlethwaite, and Tim Roth. Holland would go on to direct The Secret Garden and Washington Square. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 57 min.
Directed By: Agnieszka Holland
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Sep 7, 1988 Wide
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
The initial steps of To Kill a Priest are quite absorbing, generating an effective tension and historical purpose that sustains throughout the picture.

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Cast

            Christopher Lambert as Father Alek

            Ed Harris as Stefan

            Joanne Whalley as Anna

            Joss Ackland as Colonel

            David Suchet as Bishop

            Tim Roth as Feliks

            Pete Postlethwaite as Joseph

            Cherie Lunghi as Halina

            Gregor Fisher as Fr. Irek

            Charles Condou as Mirek

            André Chaumeau as Wacek

            Vincent Grass as Volak

            Nicolas Serreau as Staszek

            Brian Glover as Minister

            Paul Crauchet as Alek's Father

            Janine Darcey as Alek's Mother

            Wojciech Pszoniak as Bridge Player

            Jerome Flynn
            
            Anne Marie Pisani
            
            Boguslawa Schubert
            
            Timothy Spall as Igor

            Huguette Faget
            
            Jean-Pierre Stewart
            
            Georges Birt
            
            Eugeniusz Priwieziencew
            
            Tom Radcliffe as Young Soldier

            Philip Whitchurch
            
            Nick Taylor
            
            Matyelok Gibbs as Colonel's Wife

            Joanne Whalley-Kilmer
            
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