Spotlight.

I also thought the film was excellent, but it never crossed my mind to consider it as entertainment. I was a bit worried about the subject matter because I was going with my husband and sometimes men can be funny about this kind of thing, but he thought it was excellent too and not surprised it was up for awards. There's absolutely no titillation, it's not salacious or lurid in any way. It's all about the journalism and the individual journalists.

Although initially the journalists investigate one priest who was moved around several times, the Spotlight team uncovers a pattern of sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests and an ongoing cover-up by the Church.

This is the focus of the film, i.e. the systematic cover up by the Church of widespread. It shows that it was not a case of the odd rogue priest. 6% of priests were abusing children and being continually reassigned by the Church and subsequently re-offending. It's not one of those films made in a way to portray the USA as the good guys saving the day by twisting the facts.

Even the Vatican said the film was honest and compelling. Luca Pellegrini on the Vatican Radio website wrote that the film ...never gives in to personal interpretation or falls into the trap of scandal. Earlier this month the Vatican City commission on clerical sex abuse attended a private screening of the film.

I saw this film at the weekend and agree with Lona and ffinochio that its focus is the investigative journalism. MOnica to accuse those of us who have seen this film of doing so because of "hidden titillation and unadmitted pleasure" is unnecessarily combative and frankly, extremely rude. It also suggests that the professionals in the police, probation, social work, mental health, prisons etc who investigate sexual abuse of children are similarly motivated.

You question why "nobody is interested in making a film about teachers, social workers, families who abuse children? The list for each of those would far exceed ministers of all denominations" . Yes, child sexual abuse is prevalent in society. It's only in recent years that it has been spoken about more openly but many people still find it so distressing that they prefer to believe those who investigate are over zealous or meeting some kind of perverse personal need.

It has just won BAFTAS for best screenplay and best supporting actor!

I'm going to see it on Thursday so glad of the reviews.

'this is an absolute must see film on every level. It's a film touched with greatness'...this is a quote from one of the guys on the film section of another forum. Annoyingly I'm too busy to go to the cinema for a while so I may have to wait for it to come out on dvd.

I saw Spotlight and thought it was excellent. You could have heard a pin drop in the cinema and it made me, and several people near me, cry. As has been said, it was about the role of the journalists. How they unpicked the story and how they had unwittingly covered it up years before. It reminded me of All the Presidents Men . It serves two purposes - to remind both that journalists can do good and also that children are vulnerable to abuse by all people in authority.

Not a film that I would have chosen to go to, but it has had rave reviews on another forum. The subject matter in Oranges and Sunshine was not totally dissimilar and that was a very good film.

Well said ffinocchio, there was no titillation involved, it was about the journalism.

Perhaps watch the film before you pass judgement, MOnica.

This film was very good because it's strength lay in it's focus on investigative journalism, and the thousands of hours it took to uncover this widespread abuse. It was about team work, dedication and determination against an enclosed and entrenched system.

There was not an ounce of titillation. Anyone seeking thrills of that nature would be sorely disappointed.

Why is nobody interested in making films about all the teachers, social workers, parents and families who abused children? The list of each of those would far exceed that of ministers of all denominations. Unfortunately any profession that has a free access and authority over children will attract those who want that freedom to use it to abuse children. I wonder whether there is a sense of hidden titillation and unadmitted pleasure hidden in people who want to see these kinds of films.

All these things should be investigated, reported and given publicity. But going to see them as entertainment strikes me as very odd.

Not my idea of entertainment. I'm not saying it shouldn't be investigated and exposed but I wouldn't want to see a programme about it.

Yes have seen it, very good and shocking, makes me wonder about the parish church I attended as a child, seems like this problem was endemic. There is a summary right at the end of the film whereby it lists all the priests around the world who had abused children. Horrific!