This short film has an incredibly powerful and impactful message. “The Confession” by John LaRaw from South Korea was the Winner of  Best Short Film at the International Catholic Film Festival.

“The Confession” tells the story of a young priest who listens as an elderly man confesses to the sin of a murder he committed twenty years ago. The man is riddled with guilt and visibly pained by the choice he made to flee the scene and avoid the police. As the details of the man’s crime continue to unfold, the priest suddenly realizes that he has a very personal connection to the story.

There is an incredible and unexpected twist in the plot as we watch the priest physically, emotionally, and spiritually struggle with how to handle the elderly man’s request for the forgiveness of his sins. Will the priest respond in anger or mercy? There are no spoilers in this post because everyone should make time to watch this short film.

“The Confession”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIYSU2wjjyc

Questions for Discussion

1) Were you surprised by the priest’s connection to the man’s sinful past?

2) Try to imagine yourself in a similar situation. What are the thoughts that run through your mind? What do you feel? How do you respond?

3) The priest modeled for us what we should do when we are confronted with situations in which we have a choice to respond either in anger or with mercy and compassion. What did you notice about his example?

4) Have you faced a situation of this magnitude? How did you respond?

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