Karol: A Man Who Became Pope (2005)

The life of the pope John-Paul II, from his youth as a writer, actor, and athlete in war-torn occupied Poland to his election as Pope at the age of 58.

Director:

Giacomo Battiato

Writers:

Giacomo Battiato (screenplay), Gianfranco Svidercoschi (book)

Stars:

Piotr Adamczyk, Malgorzata Bela, Ken Duken

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Piotr Adamczyk	...	Karol Wojtyla
Malgorzata Bela	...	Hanna Tuszynska
Ken Duken	...	Adam Zielinski
Hristo Shopov	...	Julian Kordek
Ennio Fantastichini	...	Maciej Nowak
Violante Placido	...	Maria Pomorska
Matt Craven	...	Hans Frank
Olgierd Lukaszewicz	...	Karol Wojtyla senior - Karol's father
Lech Mackiewicz	...	Stefan Wyszynski
Radoslaw Pazura	...	Pawel Kowalski
Grazyna Szapolowska	...	Brigitte Frank
Kenneth Welsh	...	Professor Wójcik
Raoul Bova	...	Tomasz Zaleski
Szymon Bobrowski	...	Captain Macke
Mateusz Damiecki	...	Wiktor Milosz

Storyline

The life of the pope John-Paul II, from his youth as a writer, actor, and athlete in war-torn occupied Poland to his election as Pope at the age of 58.

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Plot Keywords:

pope | propaganda | cleric | clergyman | roman catholic church | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

John Paul's life and papacy has been compared to that of the fictional pope in the novel "The Shoes of the Fisherman" by Morris West. Both men were from a Slavic nation, Ukraine in the book, Poland in real life. Both were among the younger cardinals. Both were elected after a deadlock over two Italian cardinals. The election of both was a shock to the world. Both were the first Slavic pope. Both the first non-Italian pope in 500 years. Both preached the message "Don't be afraid". John Paul's birth name Was 'Karol'. The Pope in the book was named 'Kiril'. The book was published in 1963, 15 years before John Paul's election.

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Quotes

Professor Wójcik: You pay for freedom with your whole being, that is why you will call freedom that which while paying for it helps you to know and control yourself over and over.

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Connections

Followed by Karol - The Pope, the Man (2006)

User Reviews

for entire family

story of a man. or, only, picture of a century half. a delicate way to present facts and grow - up of a symbol. and tender art to suggest borders of things heart. a film like a chocolate cup. or green tea. or winter morning. a film like an autumn evening and like ball of childhood remains. sure, it may be a kind of Halmark productions. but it is more. a speech, out of polish temptations about care for others and force of values. a testimony as homage. a map of a life in which gesture is seed to better way to transform existences. Piotr Adamczyk does good work in this really difficult role. because his character is collection of precise nuances. so, his mission is a kind of game with fire. the key of success - honesty. desire to present a way of ordinary man in dark times , not silhouette of a great hero. and mission is accomplished. with deep success.

Details

Official Sites:

Faith Streams

Country:

Poland Italy

Language:

English Italian Polish

Release Date:

15 August 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Karol: A Man Who Became Pope

Filming Locations:

Dobczyce, Malopolskie, Poland

Box Office

Budget:

EUR10,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,367,476

Company Credits

Production Co:

Taodue Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

155 min (theatrical) 180 min (2 parts) (TV) 240 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1