What a beautiful, interesting, and touching film.
Perhaps the greatest man of the 20th century, and humbly, John Paul II, most certainly deserves an accurate depiction of his life times.
From his modest beginnings as a conservative playwright and actor in Poland, to his fight against the Nazis and for the jews of Poland, to his epic struggle against the evil and cruel communist empire of the Soviet, this film manages to create an engrossing condensation of his life.
While John Voight is the star of the film, as the older Pope, it is Cary Elwes who steals the show with his exquisite and nuanced performance as a young Karol.
Not directed with any particular flash or style, the film is very competently made (aside from some weak cgi "crowd shots"), containing much historical accuracy and definitely giving the viewer an epic feel - Karol's struggle during WW2 could make a movie on their own, and once Lek Walesa enters the picture and they struggle against communism begins, the film certainly reaches heights of epic proportions.
This film should be shown in classrooms, not for theology, but for its historical significance.
A beautiful and touching film full of emotion, intellectual reasoning, and great performances from top-notch artists.
Perhaps the greatest man of the 20th century, and humbly, John Paul II, most certainly deserves an accurate depiction of his life times.
From his modest beginnings as a conservative playwright and actor in Poland, to his fight against the Nazis and for the jews of Poland, to his epic struggle against the evil and cruel communist empire of the Soviet, this film manages to create an engrossing condensation of his life.
While John Voight is the star of the film, as the older Pope, it is Cary Elwes who steals the show with his exquisite and nuanced performance as a young Karol.
Not directed with any particular flash or style, the film is very competently made (aside from some weak cgi "crowd shots"), containing much historical accuracy and definitely giving the viewer an epic feel - Karol's struggle during WW2 could make a movie on their own, and once Lek Walesa enters the picture and they struggle against communism begins, the film certainly reaches heights of epic proportions.
This film should be shown in classrooms, not for theology, but for its historical significance.
A beautiful and touching film full of emotion, intellectual reasoning, and great performances from top-notch artists.