*** Welcome to piglix ***

Habemus Papam (film)

We Have a Pope
Habemus Papam
Poster-Habemus-Papam.png
Italian poster
Directed by Nanni Moretti
Produced by Nanni Moretti
Domenico Procacci
Written by Nanni Moretti
Francesco Piccolo
Federica Pontremoli
Starring Michel Piccoli
Nanni Moretti
Music by Franco Piersanti
Cinematography Alessandro Pesci
Edited by Esmeralda Calabria
Production
company
Sacher Film
Fandango
Le Pacte
France 3 Cinéma
Distributed by 01 Distribution (Italy)
Le Pacte (France)
Release date
  • 15 April 2011 (2011-04-15) (Italy)
  • 7 September 2011 (2011-09-07) (France)
Running time
104 min.
Country Italy
France
Language Italian
Budget € 8 million

We Have a Pope (original title: Habemus Papam) is a 2011 Italian-French comedy-drama film directed by Nanni Moretti and starring Michel Piccoli and Moretti. Its original title is Latin for "We have a pope", the phrase used upon the announcement of a new pope. The story revolves around a cardinal who, against his wishes, is elected pope. A psychoanalyst is called in to help the pope overcome his panic. The film premiered in Italy in April 2011 and played in competition at the 64th Cannes Film Festival.

On the death of the pope, the conclave meets in Rome. Early ballots end with black smoke, since none of the main candidates reaches the quorum. After several rounds of voting, Cardinal Melville is elected, though he had not previously been considered a frontrunner.

At the moment of the public announcement, with the faithful are gathered in St. Peter's Square and the cardinal proto-deacon ready to announce the name of the new pope, the newly elected pope has a panic attack and fails to appear on the balcony.

The spokesman of the Holy See evades questions from the press and the curiosity of the outside world by reporting that the new pontiff felt the need to sequester himself in prayer and reflection before taking office, and by explaining that he will make his official appearance within a few hours. This does not happen.

In accordance with the laws of the Church, until the identity of the new pope is announced publicly, the ceremony of election is not over and no one in the conclave can leave the Vatican.

The College of Cardinals, deeply concerned by the crisis and the depression from which the new pope seems to be suffering, calls in the psychoanalyst Professor Brezzi (whose role is played by director Nanni Moretti). The cardinals react to the psychoanalyst with some suspicion, but still allow him to examine the new pope. Brezzi, in the presence of the cardinals, tries to initiate a psychotherapy session which, however, fails to reveal anything to explain the depression and helplessness that plague the pontiff.

Brezzi reveals that his ex-wife is also a psychoanalyst and the newly elected pope is taken secretly to see her, but escapes his minders and runs away during a walk. Unaware of his absence, the cardinals kill time by playing games, ranging from cards to an international volleyball tournament organized by Brezzi.


...
Wikipedia

...