The fictional Father Ćngel de la Cruz is based on Legion of Christ founder Marcial Maciel, whose long history of child abuse was not addressed until 2006 and only publicly acknowledged in 2009. But director Luis Urquiza chooses to structure his film through the largely uncomprehending, wondering eyes of 13-year-old JuliĆ”n, who travels from the arms of his loving pastoral family into the austere, hallowed halls of the seminary. Singling out the boy as his intimate disciple, installing him in his palatial private quarters and redubbing him āSacramento Santos,ā Father Ćngel begins Julianās instruction into the mysteries of āperfect obedience,ā whose cardinal rule is: Never question a superiorās actions.
