Habemus Papam (2011)

Directed by: Nanni Moretti | 104 minutes | drama | Actors: Michel Piccoli, Nanni Moretti, Jerzy Stuhr, Renato Scarpa, Margherita Buy, Franco Graziosi, Leonardo Della Bianca, Camilla Ridolfi, Camillo Milli, Roberto Nobile, Gianluca Gobbi, Ulrich von Dobschütz, Dario Cantarelli, Manuela Mandracchia, Rossana Mortara

The Pope has died, a new one is elected. There is plenty of speculation in the media about the names of the favourites. What ‘power blocs’ are there, can a first colored Pope be elected? During the conclave of the cardinals, it becomes clear with subtle humor how cardinals doubt their choice, they even cheat. Votes remain divided, there is not a sufficient majority for the ‘favourites’.

Then an outsider floats to the surface. Cardinal Melville is elected. He will be the new Pope. Meanwhile, there is great confusion among the faithful on St. Peter’s Square. Was the smoke white or black? Then: white smoke! From the balcony the announcement: Habemus Papam (we have a Pope). His name must remain a secret until he himself addresses the faithful from the balcony. Just before entering the balcony, Melville has a massive panic attack. “I can’t,” he shouts and flees into his papal chambers. The upheaval among the cardinals is enormous. What must be disclosed to the outside world?

When Melville continues to doubt, the help of a (non-believing) psychotherapist is called in (a role by director Nanni Moretti). With a great sense of irony, but also with a sharp eye, the image is sketched of a seriously doubting person who wonders whether he is suitable for this heavy task on his shoulders. Even a Pope can – given his human being – have psychological problems. The therapist and Melville engage in conversation, but many questions about possibly suppressed fantasies and the like are out of the question and should not be asked. The outside world is waiting, speculation is mounting. What is going on? Why doesn’t the Pope appear on the balcony?

The psychotherapist needs more time. When another therapist is visited outside the Vatican, Melville escapes the attention of his counselors. He wanders completely anonymously through the city. In his wandering, Melville gains experiences that he has not experienced for a long time in his isolated existence far from the common people. His insight in man and in himself grows by the hour. Meanwhile, the Vatican remains closed like an oyster. Contact with the outside world is not allowed, the psychotherapist is not allowed to leave and the outside world does not know any better that the Pope is preparing for his task. Thanks to good crisis management, nothing leaks out, but the flow of rumors is growing.

‘Habemus Papam’ is a strong mixture of comedy and drama and contains a lot of humor and irony. Cardinals who quickly make a quick prayer to the Lord during the elections to avoid being elected. Cardinals who – while the search for the Pope continues – are engaged in card games. A volleyball tournament in which the psychotherapist sees team building as a psychological factor. The tournament and the duration of the scenes mean that the film temporarily drags on at that moment, but in itself this is a minor point of criticism.

Director Nanni Moretti indicates that he himself is not religious. In his film he deals with matters of faith respectfully and sensitively and does not kick against holy houses (or in this case the Holy See). Moretti stated emphatically that he simply wanted to make a story about ‘his’ Vatican, ‘his’ conclave and ‘his’ cardinals. Because a lot has recently been filmed and written about scandals surrounding the Catholic Church, he deliberately kept these out. The film has not caused a stir from the church side.

Melville’s own wandering in the city is atmospheric and deeply humanely portrayed. The rendition of the doubting Melville is a phenomenal achievement by the now 84-year-old old master Michel Piccoli. Piccoli plays masterfully. His search for the human being around him and the human being within himself with all his doubts is sublimely completed and delivers a warm and atmospheric portrait of a vulnerable older man at the same time. Ultimately, Melville will have to return to the Vatican and make a choice.

Impressive acting, stunning, magnificent.