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Father John McNamee |
Filmmaker Eugene Martin's DIARY OF A CITY PRIEST is a serene yet powerful drama based on the book of the same name by Father John McNamee, an inner-city priest at St. Malachy's parish in North Philadelphia. The film, starring the award-winning actor David Morse, takes an inside look at the emotional and spiritual struggles and joys of an extraordinary priest called to serve in one of Philadelphia's toughest neighborhoods.
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priest helping parishiner
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Faced with gangs, poverty, drugs and an often pervasive feeling of hopelessness, Father Mac, as he is known, hands out food to the poor each evening, intercedes with colleges on behalf of promising students, even occasionally bails out neighborhood kids from night court. Inspired by activist/contemplatives Thomas Merton, Simone Weil and Dorothy Day, Father McNamee is as much a writer as he is a social worker, mentor and guide for the people he serves.
DIARY OF A CITY PRIEST was adapted for the screen and directed by acclaimed Philadelphia filmmaker Eugene Martin who, as a child, was christened by Father McNamee. Both Father McNamee and Eugene Martin were inspired by the work of the great filmmaker Robert Bresson and his influential Diary of a Country Priest. With a subtle nod to this cinema master, DIARY OF A CITY PRIEST is an insightful look at a world rarely seen on screen. Morse's portrayal of McNamee conveys his weary yet resolute faith, creating a moving, inspiring portrait of a complex, spiritual man who struggles with translating his faith into action every day.
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