Review: Pope Joan

Film:  Pope Joan

Starring:  Johanna Wokalek, David Wenham, John Goodman, Ian Glen, Edward Petherbridge

Director: Sönke Wortmann
 
Screenwriter:  Donna Woolfolk Cross (novel), Heinrich Hadding (screenplay), Sönke Wortmann (screenplay)

Although not released in the US yet, I was able to obtain a DVD from Germany and see this film.  Mired in controversy, Pope Joan is about a woman (played by German actress Johanna Wokalek) who apparently became Pope without anyone realizing that she was female until she gave birth to a child.

The film and the novel carry the story a bit further by introducing a love interest named Gerold (David Wenham), who would do anything for her, including keeping her dark secret.

The film depicts Joan's life from childhood through to adulthood where she is often met with resistance from her peers when she demonstrates her knowledge for the Catholic teachings.  The idea of a female going to school, especially a Catholic one, was forbidden in those times, and yet she was allowed in by people who saw the intelligence she had.

But it is in the midst of war that she rushes off to join a monastery, cutting her hair and hiding the fact that she is a woman.  When she encounters Gerold sometime later, she tells him it's too late for her to go back, to leave the monastic life and her duty to the current Pope.

And so the story goes.  When I first saw this film I was concerned about whether it would see any screens in the US due not only to the fact that it's about a female Pope, which is blasphemy in the Catholic Church, but also because she practices infidelity as a monk and as a Pope, breaking her vows.  The latter is so relevant to today's scandals with the church that I suspect it would cause some controversy to see such a film released here.

Sure enough, last week the press was filled with reports of the Vatican denouncing the film.  Newspapers from all over the world have carried the story, while countries such as Germany (where the film was made) and Italy saw a strong showing at the box office for the movie.

I think the story is interesting, although parts of it made me a bit uncomfortable, and I'm not even Christian.  Despite the fact that Gerold doesn't show his love to Joan until she's a young woman, one has to wonder what thoughts were in his head when he met her as a child in her early (or pre-) teens.  And the fact that she broke her vows with him while living the monastic life also is a cause of discomfort.

My favorite scene is when Gerold suspects Joan is alive and nearby when her predecessor uses a cunning trick both Gerold and Joan had learned earlier on in the film.  The look on Gerrold's face is priceless, and who wouldn't laugh at John Goodman as the Pope acting out that scene.

I'm a big fan of David Wenham and while he does a great job here, he looks too close to Faramir (his role from Lord of the Rings).  David manages to always choose the right parts, though.  He rarely takes a role on a film that gets unnoticed.  Occasionally he'll take small roles in big films and that pays off just as much as taking on a major part in another project.  It always works out for him and his career always gets a bit of a boost from the experience.

I feared John Goodman would take the film down, but I forgot what a good, likable actor he is.  I always liked him, even in Roseanne, a TV show I loved to hate for many reasons I won't go into here.  He's terrific as the Pope who precedes Joan, and he does an excellent job.  I just wish he had never done that silly King Ralph movie years ago.

Johanna Wokalek is excellent as Joan.  She's easy to watch and very likable.

The ending is terrific.  It's a nice touch.

It'll be interesting to see if this film gets released here in the US, and - if so - what the reaction will be to it by the general audience.