David Mamet, photo: © Brigitte Lacombe
An intense drama about morality, ethics, law, prejudice and faith
THE PENITENT
By David Mamet (US)
1 F / 3 M
Drama
English original text
A middle-aged psychiatrist, Charles, is facing a big moral dilemma when a former (homosexual) patient has shut and killed ten people and Charles is asked to give a testimony in favour of the defence. As a recent Jewish convert, Charles has turned to his rabbi for guidance and has finally decided not to enter the witness stand but is unexpectedly exposed as a homophobe and the villain who could have prevented the killings. Has he been giving his patient the right help? And why won’t he testify, all of a sudden, now that he has done it many times before? Should he give in to the media pressure and share his journals with the defence even though this conflicts with his oath, his morality and his faith? Would a testimony bring him peace or would it end his career?
