CLOSING NIGHT FILM
A surprisingly funny and intimate story of one of the most dramatic transitions of power in the last 2,000 years.
Acting legends Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce star as the conservative outgoing Pope Benedict and the progressive incoming Pope Francis as they debate the best path forward for the Catholic Church.
The year is 2013. Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pryce) could not be a less conventional candidate for the papacy. Dodging pomp at every turn, he prefers walking or biking to limousines. He likes to tango and watch soccer with ordinary people. Most importantly, he believes it is the Church's obligation to respond to the shifting needs of its followers — which makes him the opposite of Pope Benedict (Hopkins) who regards any change as a perilous compromise to the Church's integrity.
Nevertheless, facing scandal and self-doubt, the introspective Pope Benedict summons his harshest critic and future successor to Rome to reveal a secret that would shake the foundations of the Catholic Church. Behind Vatican walls, a struggle commences between both tradition and progress, guilt and forgiveness, as these two very different men confront their pasts in order to find common ground and forge a future for a billion followers around the world.
With its brilliantly detailed performances from Pryce and Hopkins, its cinematic flair, and surprising flourishes of humor, THE TWO POPES makes for a deeply rewarding experience. Inspired by true events.
From Fernando Meirelles, the Academy Award-nominated director of CITY OF GOD, and three-time Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Anthony McCarten (DARKEST HOUR, THEORY OF EVERYTHING, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY).
OFFICIAL SELECTION: Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival