The Young Pope

[jeidsath]

This is a wonderfully filmed series. There is a bit of Church Latin (various rites and prayers), Italian, and Spanish. The best parts by far, however, are the cinematography and costuming. The shots of the Vatican are like a documentary, with the Pope (Jude Law) dressed in full medieval regalia. At the beginning I assumed that the story was going in the direction of Habemus Papam, but it didn't turn out like that at all.

[bedwere]

I don't have a TV, so I can't comment directly. On Rorate Caeli ("International Traditional Catholic Web Log") they posted a very negative review:

The Pope and the Vatican mocked at the Venice Film Festival (original Italian here)


But maybe this will entice people to watch!

[jeidsath]

WDTPRS gives a more positive review, based on the first two episodes, just like Rorate Caeli's review. My wife, a devout Lutheran, found it uncomfortably favorable to the Catholic Church. Having seen all ten episodes, I don't think that Catholics of the traditionalist bent who watch the whole thing will be disappointed, but they will have to put up with a number of venial old men playing power politics at the Vatican -- something that I hear actually does go on.

I recommend it to more general audiences entirely based on the cinematography, which is breathtaking, and the primary reason that I posted it to this forum. You won't get closer to the beauty of the Vatican without being made a Cardinal (or surrounded by tourists).