Twist of Faith (2004)

Director:

Kirby Dick

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A man confronts the trauma of past sexual abuse as a boy by a Catholic priest only to find his decision shatters his relationships with his family, community and faith. |

Plot Keywords:

Sexual Abuse | Catholic Priest | Gay Interest | Child Molestation

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Jeff Anderson	...	Himself - Interviewee
Barbara Blaine	...	Herself - SNAP President
David Clohessy	...	Himself - SNAP Executive Director
Sandy Comes	...	Herself
Tony Comes	...	Himself
Wendy Comes	...	Herself
Robert Donnelly	...	Auxillary Bishop of Toledo
Dennis Gray	...	Himself
Catherine Hoolahan	...	Herself - Tony's Attorney
Dennis O'Loughlin	...	Himself
Mike Sallah	...	Himself - Investigative Reporter, Toledo Blade
Jon Schoonmaker	...	Himself
Father John Shiffler	...	Himself - John Charles Shiffler
Matthew Simon	...	Himself
Father Stephen Stanbery	...	Himself (as Father Stanbery)
Claudia Vercellotti	...	Herself
David Yonke	...	Himself - Religion Editor, Toledo Blade
Firass Dirani	...	Soc (uncredited)

Directed by
Kirby Dick

Produced by
Nancy Abraham	....	supervising producer
Kirby Dick	....	executive producer: Chain Camera Pictures
Jane Fitzgerald	....	associate producer
Sheila Nevins	....	executive producer
Danielle Schleif	....	supervising producer
Eddie Schmidt	....	producer

Original Music by
Blake Leyh

Cinematography by
Tom Hofbauer
Eddie Schmidt

Film Editing by
Matthew Clarke

Sound Department
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Bruce Pross	....	foley editor
Jac Rubenstein	....	sound editor
Allan Zaleski	....	sound effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Elspeth Kydd	....	additional camera operator

Editorial Department
Stephanie Hernstadt	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Mike Kahne	....	titles
Matthew Mylander	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Chain Camera Pictures
• HBO Documentary Films

Distributors

• Chain Camera Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Artistic License (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2005) (USA) (TV)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Brazil:16

Filming Locations:

Dayton, Ohio, USA

Company:

Chain Camera Pictures

Movie Connections:

Featured in "SexTV: Dispensing Morality/Paul Barresi/Twist of Faith (#7.19)" (2005)

an excellent taut documentary

This was an exceptional movie that gets into the heart of the entire abuse crisis. Abuse of any kind demoralizes the victim and makes "getting out" extremely difficult. Abuse by an authority figure, relative or priest is just that much more difficult. This movie authenticates the dehumanizing aspect of abuse and the terrible denial that only serves to demean the victim further. The main character, Tony Comes,does a good job of tracing his history and the circumstances that preceded the abuse. The unfolding helps the viewer to understand what the abuse has meant not only to him, his parents, wife and family but also his friends and drinking buddies. They aren't sure of its effects. It is easy to see just how hard it would be to come forward about the abuse. The church's various responses is criminal and at the heart of the story. The very source of comfort is in effect the source of the abuse and the continuing of the abuse.