Pope Joan (2009)

A woman of English extraction born in the German city of Ingelheim in the ninth century disguises herself as a man and rises through the Vatican ranks.

Director:

Sönke Wortmann

Writers:

Donna Woolfolk Cross (novel), Heinrich Hadding (screenplay)

Stars:

Johanna Wokalek, David Wenham, John Goodman

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Johanna Wokalek	...	Johanna von Ingelheim
David Wenham	...	Gerold
John Goodman	...	Pope Sergius
Iain Glen	...	Village Priest
Edward Petherbridge	...	Aesculapius
Anatole Taubman	...	Anastasius
Lotte Flack	...	Johanna von Ingelheim - Age 10-14
Tigerlily Hutchinson	...	Pope Joan - age 6-9
Jördis Triebel	...	Joan's mother
Oliver Cotton	...	Arsenius
Nicholas Woodeson	...	Arighis
Suzanne Bertish	...	Bishop Arnaldo
Richard van Weyden	...	Eusthasius
Branko Tomovic	...	Paschal
Lenn Kudrjawizki	...	Jordanes

Storyline

German village Igelheim's backward priest hopes his sons to succeed him after education in the bishop's cathedral school, but the elder succumbs to disease and the youngest lacks any intellectual drive. Traveling teacher Aesculapius arranges for the inquisitive daughter Johanna to be enrolled too, against their father's wishes. Unfit for the boys-only dorm, she gets to stay with count Gerold, incurring his wife's due jealousy. She's to be dismissed, but survives a Viking pillaging slaughter and assumes brother Johannes's identity to join a monastery, where she becomes the infirmary's trainee. Fleeing exposure as female, she arrives in Rome. As a protégée of rivals in the viper nest-like papal court, she ends up elected as pope, but carries count Gerold's baby, guaranteeing exposure.

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Plot Keywords:

monastery | priest | vatican | pope | feminist revisionist mythology | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Volker Schlöndorff was originally set to direct this movie but left over unspecified differences with the production company.

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Quotes

Johanna von Ingelheim: As for strength of will, women can be viewed as superior to man. Eve ate from the apple out of love of knowledge and learning. Adam ate it only because Eve asked him to.

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Connections

Version of Pope Joan (1972)

User Reviews

An ultra-liberal, new-agey, feminist fantasy

An ultra-liberal, new-agey, feminist fantasy…but those are really the only people who would care for the subject matter of this mess (unfortunately for the studio, producers and investors involved in this flop). Loosely based on a 13th century joke and subsequent Protestant propaganda from the Reformation period, the story centers on the life of a woman in the Dark Ages who cross-dresses her way to becoming Pope. John Goodman (the only cast member anyone will recognize) proves yet again that he has no problems or pride in accepting bad scripts (anyone remember "King Ralph?). The entire story, dialog and underlying theme is excruciatingly contrived and predictable, and the good news for history is that like the actual subject matter, this film will not get so much as a foot-note.

Details

Country:

Germany UK Italy Spain

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

22 October 2009 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Pope Joan

Filming Locations:

Kloster Ilsenburg, Ilsenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

EUR22,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$28,748,076

Company Credits

Production Co:

Constantin Film, ARD Degeto Film, Dune Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital

Color:

Color