Review of We Have a Pope (2011) by Rainer K — 18 Jan 2012

Few men in history can claim to have been pope against their will.

Cardinal Melville (Michel Piccoli) is one of them.

He's vulnerable, shy and lacks the confidence and leadership you'd expect from the holiness himself. Soon, even before he can get presented to the public he gets a nervous breakdown from all the pressure and retreats.

After failed experiments with psychoanalysis he eventually escapes into urban Rome where he seeks the joy and love for life he believes to have lost.

While he's on his way his confidant Rajski plays a double-game with the cardinals which leads to nearly as much funny scenes as the psychoanalyst who's trapped in the Vatican as well (played by Moretti himself) fighting his boredom - playing cards, reciting and analyzing the bible and eventually even organizing a volleyball tournament.

A nice and lighthearted film between comedy and drama bolstered by a wonderful Piccoli who delivers the best performance of 2011 yet (haven't seen The Artist, Shame and The Descendants yet) but without the depth to tackle serious issues or criticize the ongoings within the catholic church or the laughs for a real comedy.