By Chilimovie - 27 July 2021
The Two Popes. A documentary film telling the story of Pope Benedict XVI's abdication in 13 years and Pope Francis being elected as the new pope, but it focuses more closely on the connection between the two characters themselves, a lot of dialogue, discussion, questioning, and statement. Collide with each other and get forgiveness. Strangely, I didn’t know anything about that period of history before watching this movie. I didn’t know that the whole world focused on Vatican Square on the night of March that year. I didn’t know that a new pope would have to get at least 77 votes. I don't know what the meanings of white smoke and black smoke respectively represent. My ignorance makes me full of respect and love for this movie. After watching it for the first time in the theater, I went home and rewatched it on Netflix, from beginning to end, without interruption.
It talks about religion, but it's not boring, it's even fun. Two characters with completely opposite positions "fight", in the form of theological speculation, not giving way to each other. The conversation between the two of them in the summer palace was full of gunpowder. The bishop criticized the narcissistic church in the new era. The church is still standing still and detached. Pope Benedict reluctantly responded that the church integrated with the spirit of the times would be abandoned by the world. One is conservative and the other is radical. Is it change or change? Compromise, is God coming towards us or He is always there. They dispute over how to deal with scandals in the church. Repentance can only purify the souls of sinners but cannot help the victims and build bridges not walls.
As the role of "pope" itself, the movie also gave more humanity to the show. Red dust, music, tango, football, pizza and Fanta, the connection with God, even in the end Pope Benedict approached hysterically and said "I can't play this role anymore" "I dont hear his voice. Silence. For my entire life I've been alone but never lonely, until now." This is my favorite line, the helplessness of a believer, and as the pope, it is even more helpless to admit that he has lost some connection.
I don't know exactly where I was moved by the movie. It may be the kindness it conveys silently, the relief after painful struggle, or the sincerity of people's faith. It made me cry in the dark and was moved.
But still, this is a movie, and it's impossible to judge how much of it is real and how much art. It is interspersed with pictures, news reports and videos of the time. It has a wonderful soundtrack and a grasp of the rhythm of the plot. Two actors, Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, who can interpret the pope vividly and vividly, are selected as audiences and can still be on the big screen. It’s a blessing to see these grandfathers playing on stage. Worth a watch!
Again, bravo to Netflix for making this film.
