Father Otto (Dylan Saunders), a defrocked priest still trapped in the business of religion runs a makeshift and rather unorthodox confessional booth out of a parked trailer. He charges a quarter per sin, offering his congregation the opportunity to literally purchase a pardon! However, he is only visited by female confessors who flirt with him, or kids dragged by their parents to confession. As the quarters run out, so does the frustrated priest’s patience. And as someone whose faith is already dwindling due to a falling out with his fellow clergymen, he questions his existence as well as his calling.
His only solace is privately indulging in temptations such as the occasional drag from a joint when things appear hopeless and trying his luck with scratch cards. However, one evening, as he wraps up the last of his confessions, he finds a companion in the form of a random visitor. A rabbi (Alan Blumenfeld) appears out of the blue at the door of his trailer, confiding in Otto and begging for salvation as he is at the mercy of his own thoughts. He is overwrought by torment and regret over the premature death of a devout and closeted teen who sought out his advice in hiding his ‘perverse’ and ‘sinful’ lifestyle from conservative parents.
Confronting Religious Crossroads
As its title indicates, the running theme of “Indulge Me” is the rite of indulgence itself. According to the Catholic faith, this provides remission of punishment for sins, thereafter reducing or eliminating the amount of time that an individual needs to spend in Purgatory after their death. The short film follows both flawed men of the cloth pursuing paths of righteousness. It portrays this quest for indulgence by drawing comparisons between their respective punishment. Father Otto has been ostracized by his peers who label him a heretic for daring to accuse a bishop of sexual abuse. Meanwhile, the rabbi is ashamed and is in a self-imposed exile. He feels utterly betrayed by his own dogma and is at a crossroads with his own faith after forsaking empathy by prioritizing orthodox beliefs.
The rabbi’s visit to his helpless Catholic counterpart is also an act that proves to be meritorious in a dual fashion. It leads to Father Otto’s realization that he is not alone in doubting his faith, particularly with regards to the drawbacks of blind faith/piousness. It also occurs to him that there are fellow men of the cloth who actually hold themselves accountable—or even are remorseful for unintentional actions—that are unfortunate consequences of the vocation. This is in comparison to his own peers who withhold information from vulnerable parishioners and gloss over crimes of their fellow clergy.
Addressing Blind Faith
Dylan Saunders and Alan Blumenfeld in a scene from “Indulge Me.” (Photo submitted by HollyShorts Film Festival).
Upon encountering the similarly perturbed rabbi, Father Otto confronts his own moral stance, as well as the flawed belief that the power of prayer and confession is enough to magically wipe clean one’s slate of sins. It causes him pause, especially since the foundation of his own church is ‘built on sand’— or rather lies, deception, and the insincerity of higher-ups who unethically dispose of their own sins.
The visual motifs in “Indulge Me” also serve as metaphorical representations of the blind faith that has grown to be an overbearing cross for Father Otto. One, in particular, is the confessional screen that separates him from addressing the sinner in an honest or direct fashion. It stands between him understanding the guilt-ridden individual(s) on a more humane and in-depth level. This is a woe that his Jewish counterpart is similarly guilty of.
Dylan Saunders and Alan Blumenfeld are Compelling
Apart from a powerful screenplay by Martin Molpeceres brought to fruition by Director Clarinda Blais’ vision, the short is also complemented by compelling performances from Dylan Saunders and Alan Blumenfeld. Both actors leave a lasting impression during the heart-wrenching final confession, which will ultimately decide the outcome and fate of the duo in this quest for even the slightest hint of a silver lining.
Ultimately, “Indulge Me” fares well as a think piece on morality. It might even prove cathartic for those at a crossroads with their faith, or struggling to escape the clutches of puritanical religious dogmatism.
“Indulge Me” will be playing at this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival from August 8th-18th. Follow The Movie Buff for more coverage of this year’s festival.
