Review: The Two Popes

All his life Jorge Bergoglio, looked for a sign. He wanted to be a priest but he never got that calling. Finally, he decided to propose to his girlfriend and on his way to meet her, he was called into a church by a father, rather mysteriously. That was the sign he waited for and it changed his life, perhaps for the first time and for the many changes which followed later.

"Everything changes. Even God! Nothing is static!"

That was what Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio said to The Pope, Pope Benedict XVI. They both were the two front runners of being chosen as the next Pope, after the death of Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger eventually gets chosen, after a close voting with Bergoglio, as the next Pope. On his latest visit, it is Cardinal Bergoglio's intention to reiterate his wish to resign from the position of Archbishop to the Pope, which is declined by The Pope, time and time again. The Pope sees this act of Bergoglio as a protest or a rebellion towards his less popular conservatism and strong beliefs. While assuring it does not come as a protest, Bergoglio confirms that he is in disagreement with several things done by the church and how horribly wrong the church has been in dealing with the infamous Vatican leaks and the culprits mentioned in it, and how change is essential and putting humanity above religion and faith is the way forward to regain the lost hopes of nearly 1.2 billion people.

The film shows the relationship between the then Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who later becomes Pope Francis, how the two of them, very different in their approach towards the church and faith develops a bond between them, starting of as adversaries, to meet at a common ground finally, sharing their past, confessing and collecting wisdom from each other.

Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce were the perfect cast for playing Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. I could not imagine a better cast, both in terms of looks as well as acting. They both were so fantastic that at times it felt so authentic and felt like watching an inside documentary from Vatican rather than a movie. The younger version of Bergoglio was played by Juan Minujin equally as brilliant as the two veteran actors in the film. The direction from Fernando Mierelles ( City of God ) and the cinematography of Cesar Charlone was magnificent, bringing grace and that divinity to each and every scene.

You certainly do not have to be a firm believer or a follower to watch and enjoy this movie. It is a piece of art for the brilliants shots and acting alone. Though, it does not scrape much on the Vatican scandal, you can only expect so much with all the scrutiny and politics involved along with it. Still, I'd mark it as one of the most beautiful and best movies of the year.