Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999)

Director:

Paul Cox

Writers:

John Briley (writer)
Hilde Eynikel (book)

Release Date:

17 March 1999 (Belgium)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

The true story of the 19th century priest who volunteered to go to the island of Molokai, to console and care for the lepers. |

Plot Keywords:

19th Century | Priest | Compassion | Leprosy | 1870s

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

David Wenham	...	Father Damien
Kate Ceberano	...	Princess Liliuokalani
Jan Decleir	...	Bishop Köckerman
Chris Haywood	...	Clayton Strawn
Derek Jacobi	...	Father Leonor Fouesnel
Keanu Kapuni-Szasz	...	Malulani
Alice Krige	...	Mother Marianne Cope
Kris Kristofferson	...	Rudolph Meyer
Leo McKern	...	Bishop Maigret
Sam Neill	...	Walter Murray Gibson
Peter O'Toole	...	William Williamson
Dirk Roofthooft	...	Father Conrardy
Tom Wilkinson	...	Brother Joseph Dutton
Aden Young	...	Dr. Kalewis
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kate Agnew	...	Sister Leopoldina
Nan Asuncion	...	Mrs. Meyer
Larry Bialock	...	White Gentleman
Charlene Campbell	...	Emma's Mother
Joseph Cariago Jr.	...	Teenage Little Bishop
Curtis Crabbe	...	Amon
Kimo Farm	...	Jimmy
Randy Fyjimori	...	Kaho'ohuli
Thom Hoffman	...	Dr. William Saxe
Keokeokalae Hughes	...	Old Woman
Zachary Kapule	...	Ranch Hand
Swaine Kaui	...	Sailor
Kayla Kawai	...	Elizabeth Meyer
Sylvestor Kepilino	...	Caveman
Jan Kleinejan	...	White Officer
William Lebus	...	Reverend Appleyard
Dorothy Mane	...	Celia
Richard Marks	...	Verger
Murphy Mersburg	...	Amon Cohort
Bill Ogilvie	...	Ship's Officer
George O'Hanlon Jr.	...	Evans (as George O'Hanlon)
Norbert Palea	...	Ute
Michael Pas	...	Dr. Stottard
Michael W. Perry	...	Dr. Trousseau
Kalaiwaa Pilialoha	...	Housekeeper Bishop
Ryan Rumbaugh	...	Little Bishop
George Russell	...	Reporter
Varoa Tiki	...	Old Woman

Also Known As:

Damiaan (Belgium: Flemish title)
Father Damien
Molokai: The Forbidden Island (UK) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements, some violence, brief sensuality and mild language.

Runtime:

Netherlands:109 min | Australia:122 min | USA:113 min

Country:

Belgium | Netherlands | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | USA:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Era Films

Trivia:

Leo McKern's final film.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Great Heart (1938)

Soundtrack:

HE PULE HO'OLA

Could have been better

This was an almost unrealistically ambitious co-production between Belgium and a whole bunch of other countries, but the many different sources of interference don't hurt the finished product as much as I thought it would. More funding brings more supplies, and that shows. Paul Cox may not be a particularly skilled director, but his country does appear to have a lot of money so it evens out. The visual style to this movie looks really professional, sometimes it'll give you a made for TV-vibe, but that will just be a sporadic feel. The screenplay has some pacing problems, but that doesn't mean it's slow. It just keeps randomly changing in pace, which isn't nearly as exciting as you'd think. There are bunches of scenes where there's nothing happening, but when father Damien ends up contracting leprosy, the movie suddenly looks like it's sick of itself and just takes every possible shortcut to the ending. I do like that very last line though, as corny as it may be, and it is very corny. The biggest plus this movie has is the performance by David Wenham. Hiring an Australian guy to play Damien sounds like the worst idea ever, but he's really authentic. He's pretty much why I kept watching. This movie is fairly well-made, but there's room for improvement.