I'm not Catholic, but I was intrigued to watch it because of all the pomp and circumstance Catholic doctrine dictates about selection of Pope as well as the power and influence the Pope supposedly has worldwide. I was even more drawn to watch it because it made me ponder about the reality that some of the past Popes chosen may have never wanted to be strapped with the responsibility, regardless of being "called" by God or not.
The movie starts with the Cardinals arriving to Vatican City for the funeral of the dead Pope and to elect a new Pope. They are locked away in secrecy and begin the process of prayer and voting. We "hear" the silent prayer of our star and a few others praying to God to NOT let it be them that are chosen. However, our star is chosen and he reluctantly acknowledges the position in front of his colleagues He is then taken off to be adorn in the Pope's garb and is expected to great the faithful from the balcony of the Vatican.
Seconds before stepping onto the balcony he suffers a panic attack. He retires to his apartment and a psychoanalyst is called. The psychoanalyst doesn't get anywhere with the Pope's panic issue because the Vatican won't allow him to ask the Pope certain questions. But, since he has seen the Pope, he is not allowed to leave the Vatican for fear he will announce who the Pope is before the man himself greets the world.
Finally, the Pope is dressed in street clothes and is secretly taken out of the Vatican to meet, incognito with another therapist. After the meeting, the Pope tells his escorts he needs to take a walk. They follow a safe distance behind, but when the Pope crosses the street, a large truck separates the Pope from his escorts and the Pope escapes. He is missing for three days before being found.
During the three days, his escorts lie to the conclave that the Pope is in his apartment, praying and reflecting. They have a member of the Swiss Guard stay in the Pope's chambers to turn lights on and off, move the curtains, and eat the food - all for the sake of appearances.
The Pope wanders the streets, scared to death of the responsibility he's been burdened with, yet, he connects with many different people.
Finally, when the Pope's escorts let the cat out of the bag about the Pope not being inside the Vatican, many of the Cardinals and Swiss Guards go to look for him - in his favorite known place - a playhouse. They stroll inside while the play is being conducted and walk around the audience until finally, one of them spots the Pope. All Cardinals and Swiss Guard turn in his direction and the rest of the audience finally understand what is going on and they too, turn towards the Pope, applauding.
Now the identity of the Pope is known. He is driven back to the Vatican and once again adorned in his robes. He takes the balcony, and just when you think he may have come to terms with his fear, he makes the statement that he is not a leader, but one who needs to be led. He cannot take on the position of the Pope. You see the hearts of the Cardinals break, as well as those of all of the Faithful who are standing in front of the balcony. And that is how it ends. We don't know who becomes Pope or if this man was eventually forced to be Pope anyway.
I'm glad I watched the movie. However, while there were a few comical scenes in the movie - such as the entire Cardinal conclave playing tournament volleyball in the inner Vatican courtyard while sealed away until the new Pope revealed himself to the faithful. Or when the freshly elected Pope's therapist suggested he had a "parental deficit". Later, the Pope wanders into a donut shop and is given a fresh donut. The baker asks if it is good and the Pope nods and says yes. Then says to the baker, "I have a parental deficit. I don't know what it is". Even with those comical scenes, I rather find this movie to be very poignant in regards to a man who struggles with facing a tremendous responsibility that he simply does not want and did not ask for, even if that means going against God's will.
I looked online for the donut scene but could not find a short clip of it. I did find this long clip that includes the donut scene as well as a taste of what is going on in the movie.
Nanni Moretti directs the movie and plays the part of the psychoanalyst who ends up being locked up with the Cardinal conclave. Michel Piccoli plays the Pope and does a superb job, I think. You can feel his self torment and struggle with regards to his humanness vs his spirituality.
Scenery was okay. Basically, that isn't what was important to the film anyway. The shots that were of the Vatican were nice. Music was nice, pretty much what you expect to hear in a film such as this - chanting and masses.
Overall, nicely done.
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