Out, In, and Onscreen
The 19th Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival
By Mark Fagan, Fri., Sept. 29, 2006
Saint of 9/11
D: Glenn Holsten
Father Mychal Judge, the protagonist of Holsten's moving Saint of 9/11, wore many a hat. He was a chaplain of the Fire Department in New York City, a Franciscan monk, a recovering alcoholic, a dedicated advocate of the homeless and HIV-stricken, and ... a homosexual. His story is unique, and one that will stick in the minds of viewers. It starts with the tragic events of September 11, 2001, when his life ended and a photographer caught the breathtaking image of his body being carried away from the towers to a nearby church. Beloved by all who knew him – be they the firefighters he worked with or the homeless and sick whose lives he touched – Judge and his devotion to the church (despite its intolerance) and to everyone whose path he crossed is lovingly displayed in Holsten's well-crafted film. Like its subject, it leaves a positive impact.
