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Molokai: The True Story Of Father Damien (1999) Certificate TBC

Molokai: The True Story Of Father Damien
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Rated 3.5 stars
Average rating
(70%)
 
Starring: David Wenham | Kris Kristofferson
Director: Paul Cox
Run time: 117 mins
Genres: Drama
Released: September 01, 2004

Inspiring true story follows the epic life of Father Damien (Wenham), a legendary Belgian priest who dedicated his life (quite literally) to the care and spiritual guidance of a doomed Hawaiian leper colony during the late 1800s. Faced with appallingly daunting conditions--symptoms ignored, food stolen from the sick, the weak forced into slavery, diseased girls forced into prostitution--the priest supported himself through his sense of justice and his unwavering faith. A counterpart of other beneficent luminaries such as Mother Theresa and Gandhi, Damien's story speaks of the triumph of the human and the indomitable force of one man's will to do what is morally and spiritually right in a beautiful, alien world.

Highest rated reviews

8 out of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
battered saint

blabla from from Sandy, 30th March, 2006

A compelling & unglamourised story of Fr Damien's devoted mission to the lepers of Hawaii, telling how much of his energy had to be devoted to struggling against rigid & snobbish Princes of the Catholic Church. We see Fr Damien's gradual change from a handsome young man to the worn & ill but still devoted priest of his photograph. Fr Damien has been nominated for sainthood but was disqualified apparently because of 'rumours that he may have had association with women' - which only shows that the Church's conditions for sainthood are daft for an organisation which preaches that we are all sinners! Not a standard 'religious' film, with no obvious miracles or visions, but a powerful & affecting story of how one man driven by faith improved the lives of people cast aside by their society. We will definitely watch this again - one of us is Christian, the other non-aligned!

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4 out of 5 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3.0 stars
Worth watching

Hilda from from London, 22nd December, 2004

Not as good as it should have been considering the fascinating book it was taken from. The all-star cast was rather wasted and looked slightly uncomfortable with their inappropriate roles. However, it was still enjoyable and informative, telling the true story of one of the last leper colonies. It could have been shocking but it wasnt.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
Beyond sadness

A Customer from Cardiff!, 7th February, 2007

I fell into this film (holiday in Hawaii where this man is the ultimate local hero) and it hit a chord, because years ago I lived near Britain's last leper colony in Essex. A dreadful disease, uncaring bureaucrats, ruthless and exploiting 'helpers' - and then one man stands up. Father Damien is a low grade missionary, but practical and full of love for those at the very bottom of the pile. For this, he gets hatred, obstruction, and the ultimate lie that he was involved with leper women, which simply wasn't true - yet persists to this day. His real reward was to join the lepers he loved in contracting the disease, from which he died. This film isn't perfect, but it tells the story everyone should know about pointless discrimination. Today the antibiotics which cure leprosy cost less than £1. See this film, it's worth your time.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4.0 stars
An absorbing movie

David S from Cannock, Staffs, 27th November, 2005

The story of a 19th century Catholic priest who volunteers to look after lepers on one of the Hawaiian Island. The movie graphically portrays the horrors of the disease although not in a frightening way. At times the script feels a little clumsy but we do feel something of the frustrations and difficulties of Father Damien. This was actually filmed on the site of the original leper colony, but the beautiful scenery and photography is considerably diminished on the rental DVD, which was in PAN & SCAN. Still, I feel it is well worth watching.

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Most recent reviews

Rated 4.0 stars
molokai,the true story of father damien

hett from , 17th April, 2009

a truly moving film,im not catholic but i truly felt for father damien and what he was trying to do.xx

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Rated 5.0 stars
Customer Review

A Customer from UK, 23rd June, 2008

After visiting these areas of the world some time ago we were aware that Moloki was used as a lepor colony so this excellent film brought more depth to the history of the island

Accurate attention to detail in the film with good convincing acting from all.

many of the extras being Moloki islanders themselves.

Strength of character, bravery, stoicism excellently portrayed by lead.

A beautiful thoughtful positive film would view a second time.

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Rated 5.0 stars
Customer Review

A Customer from UK, 23rd June, 2008

This film is so touching and sad it is amazing to think that this is based on the life of a priest who gave his life to help others in need.

It makes you think of what is really important in life!

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