Jimmy McGovern Remembers… Priest

Overview

Screenwriter Jimmy McGovern looks back on his acclaimed, but controversial, 1995 drama Priest, explaining how an initial desire to explore the notion of celibacy for Catholic priests became a tale tackling homosexuality. He discusses the writing of what were then eye-opening sex scenes and talks about the film’s far darker storyline, exploring child sexual abuse and the sanctity of confession. On its release, Priest would be boycotted by some but embraced by many others, from surprising quarters, and it remains to this day one of the screenplays that Jimmy is most proud of.