The movie left no 'doubt', which is why I felt the movie was such a failure. Like movies often do, they seemed to feel like everything had to be neatly tied up, as much as possible.
When directing the play, Mr Shanley's advice was not to make a decision, and to have the actor playing the priest, who of course has to make a decision regarding what he did or didnt do, agree to never tell anyone, including the director, what his internal decision is - until after closing.
If you know, as a director, or a fellow cast member, then your entire experience will play into that, and the play will disappear.
In real life, only the priest (and the boy) know for sure. No one says. No one knows. She thinks she knows and acts accordingly. But she has doubts. That's where the power comes from. |
