Plot
A story centered on the relationship between the newly elected Pope and his therapist.
Release Year: 2011
Rating: 6.9/10 (3,046 voted)
Director:
Nanni Moretti
Stars: Michel Piccoli, Jerzy Stuhr, Renato Scarpa
Storyline At the Vatican, following the demise of the Pope, the conclave to elect his successor settles on Cardinal Melville. But the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square wait in vain for the new Pope to step out on the balcony. What is going on? Behind the thick walls of the Vatican panic has set in. After uttering a terrible howl of fear, the Cardinal refuses the office. The officials do everything to try to reason with Melville, including a psychoanalyst, appointed by the Vatican... Do we really have a Pope?
Writers: Nanni Moretti, Francesco Piccolo
Cast: Michel Piccoli
-
Il papa
Jerzy Stuhr
-
Il portavoce
Renato Scarpa
-
Cardinal Gregori
Franco Graziosi
-
Cardinal Bollati
Camillo Milli
-
Cardinal Pescardona
Roberto Nobile
-
Cardinal Cevasco
Ulrich von Dobschütz
-
Cardinal Brummer
Gianluca Gobbi
-
Guardia svizzera
Nanni Moretti
-
Lo psicoanalista
Margherita Buy
-
La psicoanalista
Camilla Ridolfi
-
Bambina
Leonardo Della Bianca
-
Bambino
Dario Cantarelli
-
Attore
Manuela Mandracchia
-
Attrice
Rossana Mortara
-
Attrice
Opening Weekend: €26,229
(Netherlands)
(16 October 2011)
(22 Screens)
Gross: €56,996
(Netherlands)
(19 October 2011)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
User Review
a funny and respectful movie with an unusual lead role
Rating: 9/10
This is a movie about an elderly man who has been chosen to be the next
Pope. But, beware: the operative word in the previous sentence is
"man", not "Pope", because the story is not about the challenges of
being (or becoming) Pope: the story is about the struggles of being
human. That's the reason why each and every one of us should be able to
easily follow and enjoy this funny, educated movie. Taking for granted
that all the viewers will be men (and women) themselves, it will be
easy for everybody to get in touch with the doubts, the fears and the
memories that the main character has to confront after he is called to
take on himself one of the greatest responsibilities that the world has
to offer.
Of course a lot of risks were involved in dealing with such issues as
faith and self confidence using such an unusual and peculiar subject.
But, just like a slim young acrobat on a flying trapeze daring to
attempt a difficult exercise, the movie achieves the result of telling
this strange story with grace, with humor, with kindness, and with a
respect for the themes involved that, I think, the faithful part of the
audience should be able to appreciate even more than those among us who
wouldn't define themselves religious, or catholic.
Furthermore, I can't resist to notice how funny it is that a movie
realized by an openly atheist author depicts catholic hierarchy with
such a sympathetic view – with tones much more friendly, I would say,
than the ones of many mainstream blockbusters we have seen in recent
years. So, go watch this movie with confidence (it's an entertaining,
interesting work of fiction), and trust (it's soft-spoken, and
respectful): you could take even your kids along – and, go figure, even
your confessor!
0