Starring Brendan Gleeson and M. Emmet Walsh. Rated 14A.

Calvary is a deeply contemplative film that strives to examine the meaning of faith in a faithless world. The deliberate pace is helped enormously by the multilayered performance of Brendan Gleeson as Father James Lavelle, a priest in a small Irish village who’s wise, decent, and—as one of his highly dysfunctional flock describes him—“just a little too sharp for this parish”.

Lavelle became a priest after conquering a drinking problem and coping with the death of his wife. He’s emerged as someone who’s well equipped to help others with their own particular sorrows. Unfortunately, his tolerance is about to be severely tested.

The film begins with Lavelle being anonymously threatened by a parishioner in the confession box. Sexually abused as a boy by one of Lavelle’s predecessors, the man takes perverse pride in the idea of murdering a priest he considers genuinely moral. He concludes his confession by vowing to kill Lavelle within the week.

Writer-director John Michael McDonagh quickly shrugs off the idea of serving up a conventional mystery. Lavelle knows the identity of the man threatening him. He’s just not sure what to do about it. After reporting the incident to his superior, the priest goes about his usual business.

We see him struggling to understand any number of damaged people. His daughter (Kelly Reilly) suffers from self-doubt and depression. The town doctor (Aidan Gillen) goads him with stories of grim and pointless suffering. The village hussy (Orla O’Rourke) gets off on teasing him sexually.

The priest’s only source of unspoiled contentment is his lingering friendship with a crusty writer (M. Emmet Walsh) who’s into brandy and Hoagy Carmichael. But when his old friend begins contemplating suicide, Lavelle takes on yet another professional burden.

What ultimately emerges is a brooding study in human nature that—despite glimpses of light—seems as bleak as it is inevitable. McDonagh takes a certain caustic delight in tormenting the good intentions of a man hemmed in by the cynicism of his time. Although there’s plenty of insight here, be prepared to earn it.