• Film

Molokai: The Story of Father Damien

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Time Out says

Quite engrossing and often moving, this impressively mounted historical drama (from the book by Hilde Eynikel) is set in the late-Victorian era. It tells the story of a missionary from Flanders, Father Damien, who dedicated his life to the dying lepers on the colony of Kaluapapa on the Sandwich (now Hawaiian) island of Molokai - 'a place of terror and death,' as Leo McKern's bishop correctly calls it. The starry cast, including Kris Kristofferson as a rancher/admirer, are impressive, but Wenham's Roman Catholic priest is excellent, downplaying the man's awe-inspiring self-sacrifice, tenacity, courage and humanity. Director Cox plays it admirably straight, mostly, allowing the stark oppositions (beauty/ugliness, sacrifice/self-seeking, etc) to speak for themselves, only weakening in the occasional use of emotive music.

Release Details

  • Duration:108 mins

Cast and crew

  • Director:Paul Cox
  • Screenwriter:John Briley
  • Cast:
    • David Wenham
    • Kate Ceberano
    • Derek Jacobi
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Kris Kristofferson
    • Alice Krige
    • Leo McKern
    • Sam Neill
    • Tom Wilkinson
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