"You are forever in a very special corner of my heart" (John XXIII to prisoners, December 1958).
My very first personal interest in the figure of John XXIII began a few years ago when I read one of the first biographies about this great man, a book by Alden Hatch A MAN NAMED JOHN: THE LIFE OF POPE JOHN XXIII (1963). Two years later, I saw the movie THE GOOD POPE which was made short after John XXIII was beatified by the Holy Father John Paul II. I must say that I really consider this movie a useful biographical work.
Ricky Tognazzi's film accurately shows the life of this incredible man, Angelo Roncalli, who memorably showed the world how to be a real diplomat talking even to the daughters of the atheist Soviet Union leaders; an authentic Christian loving all peoples no matter of sex, race or beliefs; how to retain child's pure heart towards God. But it is important to state that the movie is not only a typical biography with facts from Angello's birth in Sotto Il Monte (northern Italy) to his fruitful 5 year-long pontiff (1958-1963). It is a director's personal interpretation of these events as well as a very authentic film with a number of original archives.
The emphasis is drawn to the selected events from Roncalli's life. But the whole movie is made "in media res." At the beginning, the dying pope hears the crowds of people who pray for him on St Peter's Square and comes back in thoughts to his life, first his childhood in Sotto Il Monte, then his service as a priest, bishop, cardinal and his incredible pontiff. Perhaps, some people who know his life well may feel disappointed that there is no single mention of Roncalli's fruitful mission in Bulgaria, France; or his touching relations with monsignor Radini Tedeschi is seriously simplified. Nevertheless, a movie is only "a look" at the life of this great man and it seems to be impossible to put on screen all of it.
Bob Hoskins does a good job in the main role. Although he is not as similar to John XXIII as Edward Asner is in Giorgio Capitani's movie (2002), his good acting makes the portrayal pretty authentic. He clearly focuses on John's masterpiece of diplomacy inspired by his goodness, love (in Christian sense), intelligence, and a great sense of humor. Three moments from this film were the most memorable for me:
SPOILER: I have, however, one complaint to this movie. It seems to stress differences rather than similarities between the pontiff of John XXIII and his predecessor, a heroic diplomat during WWII, Pius XII. People who falsely accuse this pope of some untrue guilts concerning his conservative fear of changes and his attitude towards Holocaust, may get an idea that John XXIII was against the politics of Pius XII. Angelo's friend, Mattia (Carlo Cecchi) partly represents the old diplomatic preferences of Church. That's, however, not the gist. The direction of church is always the same, popes only differ in their emphases as all people differ in the values as the primary concern of their lives. The changes that John brought, particularly in the Vatican Council II, were an effect of new times rather than a revolution to the politics of Pius XII. John XXIII, who knew Eugenio Pacelli (Pius XII) from the times of Apollinare School, highly respected him throughout his life. The similarities between Pius XII and John XXIII should be stressed more in this film.
But all in all, THE GOOD POPE is an accurate movie, especially as a biographical work. The movie is worth seeing as a chance to get to know this pope, so similar to John Paul II in his emphasis on peace, dialog, and unity of all who believe in Christ. Worth attention! 8/10!
My very first personal interest in the figure of John XXIII began a few years ago when I read one of the first biographies about this great man, a book by Alden Hatch A MAN NAMED JOHN: THE LIFE OF POPE JOHN XXIII (1963). Two years later, I saw the movie THE GOOD POPE which was made short after John XXIII was beatified by the Holy Father John Paul II. I must say that I really consider this movie a useful biographical work.
Ricky Tognazzi's film accurately shows the life of this incredible man, Angelo Roncalli, who memorably showed the world how to be a real diplomat talking even to the daughters of the atheist Soviet Union leaders; an authentic Christian loving all peoples no matter of sex, race or beliefs; how to retain child's pure heart towards God. But it is important to state that the movie is not only a typical biography with facts from Angello's birth in Sotto Il Monte (northern Italy) to his fruitful 5 year-long pontiff (1958-1963). It is a director's personal interpretation of these events as well as a very authentic film with a number of original archives.
The emphasis is drawn to the selected events from Roncalli's life. But the whole movie is made "in media res." At the beginning, the dying pope hears the crowds of people who pray for him on St Peter's Square and comes back in thoughts to his life, first his childhood in Sotto Il Monte, then his service as a priest, bishop, cardinal and his incredible pontiff. Perhaps, some people who know his life well may feel disappointed that there is no single mention of Roncalli's fruitful mission in Bulgaria, France; or his touching relations with monsignor Radini Tedeschi is seriously simplified. Nevertheless, a movie is only "a look" at the life of this great man and it seems to be impossible to put on screen all of it.
Bob Hoskins does a good job in the main role. Although he is not as similar to John XXIII as Edward Asner is in Giorgio Capitani's movie (2002), his good acting makes the portrayal pretty authentic. He clearly focuses on John's masterpiece of diplomacy inspired by his goodness, love (in Christian sense), intelligence, and a great sense of humor. Three moments from this film were the most memorable for me:
- pope's visit at prison Regina Coeli and prisoners touched by his straightforward attitude full of love and empathy;
- pope talking to a seriously ill girl, Catarina. What an argument about God and eternal life said in such simple words!
- Roncalli rescuing the Jewish children during WWII. His conversation with Franz Von Papen (Erland Josephson) and his wife is really powerful.
SPOILER: I have, however, one complaint to this movie. It seems to stress differences rather than similarities between the pontiff of John XXIII and his predecessor, a heroic diplomat during WWII, Pius XII. People who falsely accuse this pope of some untrue guilts concerning his conservative fear of changes and his attitude towards Holocaust, may get an idea that John XXIII was against the politics of Pius XII. Angelo's friend, Mattia (Carlo Cecchi) partly represents the old diplomatic preferences of Church. That's, however, not the gist. The direction of church is always the same, popes only differ in their emphases as all people differ in the values as the primary concern of their lives. The changes that John brought, particularly in the Vatican Council II, were an effect of new times rather than a revolution to the politics of Pius XII. John XXIII, who knew Eugenio Pacelli (Pius XII) from the times of Apollinare School, highly respected him throughout his life. The similarities between Pius XII and John XXIII should be stressed more in this film.
But all in all, THE GOOD POPE is an accurate movie, especially as a biographical work. The movie is worth seeing as a chance to get to know this pope, so similar to John Paul II in his emphasis on peace, dialog, and unity of all who believe in Christ. Worth attention! 8/10!
