Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: BY THE GRAPE OF GOD [Dances With Films NY - New York, New York]
The aspect of wine changing peoples lives or giving a different perspective have placated audiences over the years from a film like "Bottleshock" to the undeniable "Sideways". "By The Grape Of God" does this progression in a similar way but this time with two priests (one seemingly on his way in and one on his way out) heading up to Santa Ynez Valley (near Santa Barbara) to find the perfect wine that will bring some excitement back to their church (though that seems sort of simplistic). The older priest found his way into his calling later in life after a trauma has beset him. Kirk Baltz plays Father Thomas with an undeniable world weariness but also a sense of fun. His progression elevates the film because two priests on a retreat getting drunk and ruminating is undeniable comedy but also speaks to a bigger idea of what is destined and what is built and earned. Sean Szatkowski plays the younger priest Father Christopher still enamored by the tenets of the cloth but he hasn't know anything else. The trip does the tone well to reverse the tendencies while still giving a woke backflip in a way.
The priests undeniably run into two women on their own wine weekend who have their own specific elements they are dealing with. In terms of the character structure and builds, all four work well, even adding an intern into the mix which both serves as a plot point and social commentary across the board. Thomas is a man who wants to do well but can bend the rules while Christopher needs to the rules to keep his life ordered but simply because he doesn't know anything else. Both men (especially Baltz) have good comic timing and Melanie Mahanna plays the girl Avery intrigued with Christopher but also beset with her own issues to a T. Szatkowski who also produced the film, overplays his part a little but that earnestness does need to be sold in order for the progression to work. Like anything, a comedy of awkward errors and encounters need to be played out but the reality (like the recent film "Sacramento") works because the characters don't try to build up themselves more than they are. "By The Grape Of God" wants to show that an outing in the real world (even a place like Solvang) can help people become more than they are. The movie knows it audience but also doesn't push it too far. It wants to show that are good people in the world, including priests who like to have a little wine. B
By Tim Wassberg
