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The Two Popes

Rarely in Hollywood is a production with two protagonists popular.

The film titled 'The Two Popes' was produced by the silicon valley disruptor media company called 'Netflix' unlike the legacy studios with big budget blockbusters, and has two lead roles.  It is a biographical narrative into the lives of two of the contemporary Bishops of Rome, the Holy See or what are commonly called - Pope.  The leader of over a billion Catholics globally the papacy is a powerful institution.

The film traces the arc of the era of a German born and controversial cardinal Ratzinger who became the Papa or the Pope after the death of John Paul II.  Then it moves into the parallel life of the Archbishop of Argentina Jorge Bergoglio who is visiting Rome to hand in his resignation to this Pope. 

It starred Sir Hopkins, a popular Welsh name, playing the role of Ratzinger against a not so popular Welsh actor called John Pryce who plays Bergoglio.

The real life story is interesting, complex and exposes the many mishaps and missteps that have rocked the Catholic church including the child sex abuse scandals. It was largely on Ratzinger's watch who while being very conservative allowed these deeds to go unpunished.

The arrival of Bergoglio is a good foil with his wit and easy charm he uses to get to know his audience; the masses that attend his sermon in Argentina.  While he too has ghosts in his closet he is grounded in reality and gets vote of confidence as the successor to Pope Benedict (this formality where these Popes take on a new name to lead the faithful) by Ratzinger himself who sees the need for a new voice for the church.  He is subsequently annointed Pope Francis as we know of him today.

Light hearted with a sombre message and largely focused on these two amazingly versatile character actors this one is a good film to watch.

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