Joan Savage

Immaculately scripted and acted however I feel very uncomfortable about the two popes forgiving each other’s horrendous sins. The audience is manipulated into thinking ‘So that’s okay then.’ In fact only the victims can forgive their abusers or betrayers. Having been raised in the Catholic Church, I envisage that this clever film (clever in every sense - sentiment, wit, timing, empathy) will make Catholics feel a whole lot better about the corrupt, misogynistic organisation that owns them. Interestingly Pope Benedict hasn’t brought in a single instance of progressive social policy. Women are still banned from using reliable contraception and there is still a ban on anyone without XY chromosomes being a priest. If you think of this film as merely a well made piece of drama, well and good. But that isn’t its message. Film of the real Popes is included in order to insert authenticity.