Movie Review: Of Sinners and Saints

Leonardo Rossellini is a young Italian priest from Rome.  He is assigned to a parish in Payatas, headed by a courageous Spanish priest.  Payatas is one of the poorest areas of Metro Manila, where all the urban wastes of the metropolis are dumped and processed:  a place where every day children are exposed to violence and dangerous diseases.  Leonardo's mission is to counsel battered women and teach poor children English and catechism.  But soon Leonardo's peace of mind is distraught by the encounter of Merlinda, a young and charming woman he used to love when he was still a seminarian.  Merlinda is now married to Franco, and has a 6 year old son.

But Franco is a violent husband also involved in illegal activities, and her son Alejandro is now missing.  Merlinda asks for Leonardo's help. The latter decides to do his best to solve her problems.  The reason? Leonardo still has feelings for Merlinda.  But Franco doesn't like the Italian priest to mess with his family's life and Carlos, the Spanish head priest is worried about it:  he knows how dangerous Franco is.  But Leonardo is even more determined when Merlinda reveals to him that Alejandro is not Franco's son:  he is their son.  

Leonardo becomes an 'action priest':  he protects Merlinda from Franco's violence and is able to find and rescue his son, who was in the hand of a syndicate of which Franco is a member.  But now Franco plans to kill the Italian priest.

Of Sinners and Saints transcends its compelling plot to deliver thoroughly a predictable screenplay. The only good reason to watch the film is its consistent cinematography, good musical scoring and great acting performance from Chanel Latorre. The action scenes towards the end also keep me entertained watching the film.

My Verdict: 2.5/5

PHOTOS DURING THE GALA PREMIERE