Movie Review: “Papa Francisco: The Pope Francis Story”

A light and inspiring film, “Papa Francisco: The Pope Francis Story” brings the audience closer to the life and views of  Roman Catholic church’s 266th Pope- Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The film is a recollection of some of the famous anecdotes of the Pope before he became the elected Pope in Rome. The film gives us an overview on how a kid with a kind heart met a bittersweet love story, how he defended the poor and oppressed and descended from being a cardinal to a pope. 

The language used in the film is primarily Spanish with English subtitles. It is similar to the feel of watching telenovelas and movies from the CineEuropa festival. The texture of the film is vivid and the musical score perfectly enhanced the different scenes of the film. The mixture of the serious and the humorous, balances the plot of the movie making audience react and relate to the story.

The casting for the film offered a smooth transition from the kid actor who played Jorge to Darío Grandinetti who played the Pope. The picturesque places of Argentina and the Vatican is visually satisfying. There is an interplay of flashbacks and memoirs that are woven in an effective way to tell the story of the Pope. Grandinetti portrayed the Pope's role flawlessly in the whole film.

We think that the film is a well written biopic that even non-Catholics would find interesting. The film is fast-paced. “Papa Francisco: The Pope Francis Story” established the key points on how the new pope exhibited compassion and hope for the Roman Catholics worldwide. 

The life of Pope Francis, Roman Catholic church’s 266th Pope who was elected in March 2013 will soon be unveiled in Philippine cinemas on September 30 in the upcoming film “Papa Francisco: The Pope Francis Story” also known as “Francis: Pray For Me.”

“Papa Francisco: The Pope Francis Story” A Closer Look on the Life of Jorge Bergoglio.

Based on the book “Pope Francis: Life and Revolution” by acclaimed journalist Elisabetta Piqué, a close friend of the Pope and a correspondent in Italy and the Vatican for La Nación, Argentina’s main newspaper, Pique offers an intimate, in depth portrait of Pope Francis, drawing on interviews with over 75 individuals including lay people, priests, bishops, cardinals and the Pope s family and friends, as well as her relationship with the Pope as a close family friend.

        

Award-winning writer-director and actors abound in “Papa Francisco: The Pope Francis Story” - directed by Beda Docampo Feijoo who won Best Screenpaly in the Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards for his work in the movie “El Marido Perfecto” in 1993 with Juan Bautista Stagnaro with acclaimed actors Dario Grandinetti in the titular Pope Francis role who won an International Emmy Award for Best Actor in 2012 and Silvia Abascal who was awarded Best Actress in Toulouse Cinespana and Malaga Spanish Film Festivals.

Life and Revolution: “Papa Francisco: The Pope Francis Story”


“Papa Francisco: The Pope Francis Story”  (2015)
Biography, Drama  |  September 30, 2015 (Philippines)

Our ratings: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

A look at the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, form his early childhood days in Argentina to his becoming Pope Francis.

Director: Beda Docampo Feijóo
Writers: César Gómez Copello (collaborating writer), Beda Docampo Feijóo, Elisabetta Pique (book)
Stars: Silvia Abascal, Darío Grandinetti, Blanca Jara

                 From Pioneer Films, get to know the Pope who fearlessly fought against poverty and corruption amidst overwhelming odds when “Papa Francisco: The Pope Francis Story” opens in local cinemas nationwide this September 30.