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 |
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. Written by KGF Vissers
the subject is far to be new. but it remains source of the same controversies. and the film has the rare gift to create a coherent, seductive image for a theory who remains obscure. the film has all the ingredients of genre. and it gives an interesting portrait of a woman who, against the social rules, step by step, sacrifice by sacrifice, becomes one of the most important figures of Catholic Church. the important thing is not the story itself. but the manner to use its nuances. because it has the romanticism and the tension, the fight scenes and the chain of dark secrets who define many other films. its specificity remains the beautiful performance of Johanna Wokalek who discovers the right rhythm for define in clear , delicate, precise manner her character. her admirable work is the axis of the inspired recreation of the atmosphere. and basic ingredient about a image of success and its price.