The Two Popes

For centuries, the Vatican has been associated with mysterious ceremonies for the chosen, a world hidden behind a giant gate, and crowds of tourists watching it from afar. What’s most fascinating, of course, is what you can’t see, such as the election of a new pope. For the uninitiated, the only visible sign is the white or black smoke that symbolizes a particular decision. But what exactly happens behind closed doors? This question is the starting point for the latest feature film by Fernando Meirelles, which gives us an opportunity to see what the relationship between Pope Benedict and Pope Francis might look like. Two Popes enables us to get to know the two most important people in the Catholic Church in recent years; we see how disputes play out—not so much about church dogma as about The Beatles versus Abba, football, and their favorite dishes. Meirelles has made a film about people with a sense of humor who are, at the same time, troubled, about individuals with vices and virtues who are both close to one another and yet distant. The intelligent acting duel between a pair on-screen geniuses, Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, will keep you glued to the screen for two hours.