Fernando Franco on his film 'La Luz' and the Catholic Church abuse scandal

Filmmaker Fernando Franco, in a conversation with Philipp Engel for Revista cultural el Hype, shares insights about his movie 'La Luz', which portrays a pedophile priest facing his victims after three decades. The initiative was sparked when producer Merry Colomer approached Franco during El País's investigation that culminated in the Ombudsman's report on abuse in Spain. Drawing inspiration from Paul Schrader's 'First Reformed' and Robert Bresson's 'Diary of a Country Priest', Franco's screenplay presents the narrative from the abuser's viewpoint. The film delves into themes of empathy, the distinction between contrition and attrition, and Spain's statute of limitations beginning at age 35. Actor Alberto San Juan embodies the priest, and the film's structure mirrors the protagonist's evolution, earning praise from victims' organizations. A victim publicly shared their experience in Seville.