The Altar Boy, the Priest and the Gardener
| The Altar Boy, the Priest and the Gardener | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Juan Manuel Fernández |
| Written by | Juan Manuel Fernández |
| Produced by | Karina Blanco Juan Manuel Fernández |
| Starring | Anthony Venegas Abarca Josué Alvarado Quirós |
| Cinematography | Juan Manuel Fernández Laura Ángel |
| Edited by | Juan Manuel Fernández Nitay Jiménez Medhin Tewolde |
| Music by | Walter Briceño |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | Costa Rica |
| Language | Spanish |
The Altar Boy, the Priest and the Gardener (Spanish: El monaguillo, el cura y el jardinero) is a 2025 Costa Rican documentary film written, co-produced, co-filmed, co-edited and directed by Juan Manuel Fernández.[1] It follows the testimonies and search for justice of two men who were sexually abused as children by the priest Mauricio Víquez Lizano.[2]
It was selected as the Costa Rican entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[3]
Synopsis
Two men have reported the sexual abuse they suffered during their childhood at the hands of Mauricio Víquez Lizano, a Catholic priest. This incident sparked an international investigation, marked by the priest's escape and the complainants' tireless fight for justice.[4]
Narrator
- Anthony Venegas Abarca
- Josué Alvarado Quirós
Production
In 2018, director Juan Manuel Fernández became interested in the case of Anthony Venegas Abarca while watching the news in his country.[5] The film was shot over a period of 6 years, beginning at the Presidential Palace of Costa Rica.[6][7]
Release
The film had its world premiere on June 25, 2025, at the 13th Costa Rica International Film Festival,[8] and was then commercially released on July 17, 2025, in Costa Rican theaters.[9]
Accolades
| Year | Award / Festival | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13th Costa Rica International Film Festival | Best Costa Rican Feature Film | The Altar Boy, the Priest and the Gardener | Won | [10] |
See also
- List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Costa Rican submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
- ^ León, Karla (2025-06-25). "El monaguillo, el cura y el jardinero expone caso de abuso que conmocionó a Costa Rica". Hollywood Reporter (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ^ ""El Monaguillo, el Cura y el Jardinero" llevará su poderosa denuncia a los cines costarricenses". Comunidad Audiovisual (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ^ "Costa Rica anuncia sus películas rumbo a los Oscar y los Goya". Centro Costarricense de Producción Cinematográfica (in Spanish). 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ^ "El Monaguillo, el cura y el jardinero llega a cines comerciales tras coronarse en el CRFIC". delfino.cr (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ^ Ross, Rafa Sales (2025-06-24). "'El Monaguillo, el Cura y el Jardinero' Zooms in on Victims of Groundbreaking Sexual Abuse Case in Costa Rica". Variety. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ^ ""El Monaguillo, el Cura y el Jardinero": cuando el cine..." Radioemisoras UCR (in European Spanish). 2025-08-01. Archived from the original on 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ^ Arce, Sergio. "Documental sobre los abusos del excura Mauricio Víquez: cuándo, dónde y a qué hora verlo". El Observador CR.
- ^ "Programación 13CRFIC". Festival Internacional de Cine de Costa Rica (in Spanish). 2025-05-27. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ^ Arley, Alejandro (2025-07-19). ""El monaguillo, el cura y el jardinero" está en cines". Radio Columbia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ^ Arce, Sergio. "¿Quiénes ganaron en el Costa Rica Festival Internacional de Cine? Estas son las producciones ganadoras". El Observador CR.