| The Young Pope | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | Paolo Sorrentino |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Paolo Sorrentino |
| Starring | |
| Opening theme | "Watchtower"(Instrumental) prod. byLabrinth |
| Composer | Lele Marchitelli |
| Country of origin |
|
| Original languages |
|
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Production locations | |
| Cinematography | Luca Bigazzi |
| Editor | Cristiano Travaglioli |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 46–60 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network |
|
| Release | 21 October (2016-10-21) – 18 November 2016 (2016-11-18) |
| Related | |
| The New Pope | |
The Young Pope is asatiricaldrama television series created and directed byPaolo Sorrentino forSky Atlantic,HBO, andCanal+. The series starsJude Law as the disruptive Pope Pius XIII andDiane Keaton as his confidante, Sister Mary, in a Vatican full of intrigues.[1] The series was co-produced by the European production companies Wildside, Haut et Court TV andMediapro.
The world premiere ofThe Young Pope was on 3 September 2016 at the73rd Venice International Film Festival, where the first two episodes were screened out of competition, the first time in the history of the festival that a TV series has been a part of the program.[2] The series premiered on television on 21 October 2016 onSky Atlantic inItaly.
The Young Pope was originally designed as a limited series, and was marketed as such, especially in the United States.[3] However, it was later followed byThe New Pope, with Law returning and joined byJohn Malkovich.[4] Production began in Italy in late 2018.[5]
On 14 July 2017,The Young Pope received two nominations for the69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, becoming the first Italian TV series to be nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award.[6]
A youngcardinal fromNew York City, Lenny Belardo, becomes thepope, the head of theCatholic Church, when the leading contenders of thepapal conclave fail to win election. Installed as a compromise candidate, Belardo takes thepapal name Pius XIII and immediately proceeds to challenge the established traditions and practices of theVatican. In one of his first acts he decrees that common people are not worthy to gaze upon the pope's face, and appears to the public on the balcony ofSt Peter's Basilica shrouded in darkness. Next, during a meeting with theCardinal Secretary of State, the pope states he will now become directly involved in the political affairs of the Vatican, effectively assuming control of theSecretariat of State of theHoly See.
Alarmed by his radical changes to the Church, several senior cardinals begin a plan to try to control the pope and dissuade him from even more ideas dangerous to the Church. In response the pope installs Sister Mary, thenun who raised him in an orphanage, to serve as his chief adviser, and he publicly denounces several cardinals. He likewise threatens to confiscate all the property of variousreligious orders, in particular theFranciscans, if they do not accept his unquestioned leadership. Following this, the pope directs that thepapal tiara ofPope Paul VI is to be removed from theBasilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception inWashington, D.C. and returned to the Vatican as his personal crown.
In a last-ditch effort to rein in the pope, the cardinals arrange a meeting between him and theprime minister of Italy, who is subsequently bullied by the pope and threatened with an archaic papal procedure allowing the Church to direct Italian Catholics not to vote in general elections. Amidst fears that at this point the pope is trying to restore thePapal States, it is then discovered he is suffering from massive depression and that all his actions have been driven by his desire to confront his parents, who abandoned him as a boy.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Italian viewers (millions) [a] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Paolo Sorrentino | Paolo Sorrentino | 21 October 2016 (2016-10-21) | 0.743[8] 0.953(o.n.)[9] | |
Lenny Belardo becomes the first AmericanPope and takes the name of Pius XIII. Shortly after his election, he causes upheaval in the Vatican with his desire to reject both publicity and the liberal philosophy of his predecessor. Sister Mary, the nun who raised Lenny, is brought in as his personal secretary, and immediately establishes herself as the chief rival of the powerfulCardinal Voiello, the Vatican'sSecretary of State. Cardinal Spencer, Lenny's mentor and the original favourite for the papacy, is distraught over his loss in the Papal election. | ||||||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Paolo Sorrentino | Paolo Sorrentino | 21 October 2016 (2016-10-21) | 0.743[8] 0.953(o.n.)[9] | |
Lenny shocks the world with his first address, in which he demands Catholics worldwide devote themselves body and soul to God, no matter the consequences. Sister Mary and Cardinal Voiello struggle to control Lenny, who admits that his conservative religious views result from his parents' decision to place him in a Catholic orphanage so they could pursue ahedonistic lifestyle. | ||||||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Paolo Sorrentino | Paolo Sorrentino and Stefano Rulli | 28 October 2016 (2016-10-28) | 0.517[10] | |
Lenny plans to lead a resurgence of conservative Christianity despite the efforts of Spencer and Voiello. Lenny forces Voiello to reveal that liberal forces in theCollege of Cardinals blocked the conservative Spencer's election as Pope, resulting in an agreement between the two men to use Lenny as a puppet. When Lenny threatens toexcommunicate Voiello, the liberal cardinal is forced to swear loyalty to him. Later, during a chance encounter with Esther, the wife of aPontifical Swiss Guard, Lenny collapses. | ||||||
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Paolo Sorrentino | Paolo Sorrentino and Stefano Rulli | 28 October 2016 (2016-10-28) | 0.517[10] | |
Lenny arranges for a nun's sister to be brought to the Vatican for burial, then berates the nun at the funeral for crying, accusing her of not believing in God. At Voiello's instigation, Spencer attempts to manipulate Lenny, who then denies him a promotion and severs ties with him. Voiello arranges for Esther to work as an assistant to the Pope in the hope that they will develop a sexual relationship that he can exploit to his advantage. However, Lenny is not tempted and prays to God to help her conceive a child with her lover. Lenny's comments about the gay aide to the attractive femaleprime minister of Greenland and the fact that the cardinals ignore her lead him to threaten to expel homosexuals from the Vatican, which horrifies Voiello. Lenny is also suspicious of the intentions of Sofia, head of the Vatican's marketing branch and his closest ally outside the priesthood. | ||||||
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Paolo Sorrentino | Paolo Sorrentino | 4 November 2016 (2016-11-04) | 0.508[11] | |
Lenny sidesteps Esther's sexual advances, thwarting Voiello's persistent machinations to bring him down with an illicit sex scandal. Lenny reveals that he already knows everyone's secrets, including those of Voiello, Gutierrez, and Tommaso. Thepapal tiara arrives, and Lenny finally addresses the cardinals. He controversially announces that theCatholic Church will no longer compromise merely to appease its followers, but will instead become more hard-line and inflexible, dedicating itself to the service of God. | ||||||
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Paolo Sorrentino | Paolo Sorrentino | 4 November 2016 (2016-11-04) | 0.508[11] | |
Six months later, after the birth of Esther's baby, and nine months into his papacy, Voiello warns Lenny that the Church is losing followers. Lenny finally grants an audience with thePrime Minister of Italy, a man of similar age and attractiveness as Lenny. He gives the prime minister a list of shocking and preposterous demands to favour the Church using political blackmail, but the prime minister rejects Lenny's demands. Lenny forces Cardinal Dussolier, his childhood friend and now the cardinal in charge of approving new priests, to block the entrance of new priests who do not adhere toclerical celibacy, regardless of their sexual persuasion. A young seminarian is denied admittance and distraught, he commits suicide inSt. Peter's Square. | ||||||
| 7 | "Episode 7" | Paolo Sorrentino | Paolo Sorrentino andTony Grisoni | 11 November 2016 (2016-11-11) | 0.490[12] | |
Voiello and Dussolier desperately try to make Lenny see the disaster he is unleashing by marginalising the Church. Sister Mary seeks Voiello's support to save the Church, deeply impressing him. Lenny is shocked and excited by the prospect of reuniting with his parents after receiving a gift indicating that they wish to see him, but he exposes them as fakes. The cardinals cut a deal with Spencer, who has a heart-to-heart with Lenny who agrees to resign. Racked by guilt, Dussolier returns to Honduras, but he is killed by a drug lord who felt disrespected because Dussolier had sex with his wife. | ||||||
| 8 | "Episode 8" | Paolo Sorrentino | Paolo Sorrentino and Tony Grisoni | 11 November 2016 (2016-11-11) | 0.490[12] | |
Lenny prays for Dussolier's soul while Sister Mary weeps bitter tears. Sofia counsels the Pope to visit Sister Antonia, a well-publicized missionary in Africa, and surprisingly he agrees. En route, the press are frustrated at Lenny's failure to appear and a journalist asks a pointed question which indicates to Voiello that Kurtwell might be blackmailing the Pontiff. In Africa, the Pope becomes suspicious of Sister Antonia's professed piety and her support for the country's dictator. After his failed confession to an African priest who does not understand English, the priest passes Lenny a note accusing Sister Antonia of controlling and manipulating the water supply. Now aware of local injustices, Lenny delivers an inspiring speech to the country's populace about war andpeace, with pointed warnings to its dictator and Sister Antonia. As the Pope's entourage departs, Antonia dies after she drinks from her personal water supply. | ||||||
| 9 | "Episode 9" | Paolo Sorrentino | Umberto Contarello and Paolo Sorrentino | 18 November 2016 (2016-11-18) | 0.550[13] | |
InNew York City, Cardinal Gutierrez is convinced of Kurtwell's guilt and desperately tries to convince his former victims to testify, but without success. Meanwhile, as Spencer lies dying in the Vatican, Lenny agrees to relate the miracle he performed as a teenager, successfully imploring God to save a friend's mother from certain death. Back in New York, Gutierrez resorts to unsavoury tactics,entrapping Kurtwell in a compromising homosexual situation. In desperation, Kurtwell releases his blackmail material on Lenny, love letters to a young woman. Kurtwell's overconfidence proves his undoing as Lenny never sent the letters. However, they are so beautiful that after they are published they become an instant sensation. Gutierrez unceremoniously bundles Kurtwell back to the Vatican. | ||||||
| 10 | "Episode 10" | Paolo Sorrentino | Umberto Contarello and Paolo Sorrentino | 18 November 2016 (2016-11-18) | 0.550[13] | |
Impressed with his new conviction and sense of maturity, Lenny asks Gutierrez to take over as his personal secretary, prepared to overlook his homosexuality; however, he banishes Kurtwell toAlaska for his sins against children. Lenny reconciles with Sister Mary and sends her to Africa to take Antonia's place and to be with orphans again. After learning that he himself may be considered for sainthood one day, Lenny agrees to spend Christmas inGuatemala among the patients of Beata Juana. At the last minute, however, Lenny decides to face his demons and heads forVenice instead. At theBasilica San Marco, the Pope finally reveals his face, appearing before thousands of people in thepiazza using Beata Juana's words to deliver a homily that touches the crowds and the cardinals alike. However, after seeing a couple in the crowd that looks like his parents, the young pope collapses, leaving his future and that of the Church uncertain. | ||||||
The Young Pope, the first TV series byPaolo Sorrentino, was produced by Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani, together with the French company Haut et Court TV and the Spanish companyMediapro.[14] The project was financed bySky,Canal+ andHBO, which contributed 40 million euros, with part of the money coming from theEuropean Regional Development Fund. Production took three years between 2014 and 2016.[15][16]
The script was written by Sorrentino, Stefano Rulli,Tony Grisoni and Umberto Contarello.[17] The cast, announced between July and August 2015, includesJude Law as the young pope;Diane Keaton as Sister Mary;James Cromwell,Silvio Orlando,Scott Shepherd,Javier Cámara andToni Bertorelli. It also includesCécile de France,Ludivine Sagnier,Guy Boyd,Andre Gregory,Sebastian Roché, Marcello Romolo,Ignazio Oliva,Vladimir Bibic, Daniel Vivian and Nadie Kammalaweera.[18][1] The main character is almost always seen only from the waist up, to give the impression that he might be soaring. Sorrentino said he inherited this technique fromSpike Lee.[19]
Principal photography, which took seven months, started in August 2015 and took place mainly in theCinecittà studios, where the interior of the Vatican was recreated. Exterior shots and garden scenes were taken at a number of villas, primarilyVilla Lante (Bagnaia),Villa Medici, andOrto Botanico dell'Università di Roma "La Sapienza", while some interior shots were also taken insidePalazzo Venezia.[15][16][19] Parts of the last episode were shot inpiazza San Marco inVenice.[20]
The series premiered on 21 October 2016 onSky Atlantic in Italy andSky Atlantic in Germany and Austria, on 27 October 2016 onSky Atlantic in the United Kingdom and Ireland, on 28 October 2016 onHBO Europe in various European countries, and on 15 January 2017 onHBO andHBO Canada in the United States and Canada.[21][22] It premiered in Australia onSBS Television on 29 April 2017.[23] In India it was telecast on ZeeCafe.[citation needed]
The Young Pope received positive reviews in the UK,[24][25] Ireland,[26] and Italy.[27] Jude Law's performance has garnered praise by Jasper Rees ofThe Daily Telegraph,[28] while the Italian weekly Catholic magazineFamiglia Cristiana objected to "caricature-like characters created to appeal to an American audience".[29][30][31]
On US review aggregatorMetacritic, it has a rating of 68, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[32] The show also currently has an 80% positive rating from review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes combining 89 reviews.[33] Its "Critics Consensus": "The Young Pope's original premise and stylish blend of over-the-top melodrama with profane comedy helps overcome an occasionally muddled plot."
Some Catholic reviewers were put off by what they perceived as the series'anti-Catholic stance.[34] Such critics took issue with a presentation of the Church they found to be caricatural and "cartoonish".[35] Other reviewers complained about anti-Catholicism in the entertainment industry more broadly.[36] Some conservative reviewers andtraditionalist Catholics praised the show for its portrayal of tradition and authentic religious devotion.[37][38]
In Italy, the two-hour premiere drew the highest rating ever for the pay TV network Sky. With 953,000 viewers overnight, it beat the initial release ofGomorrah and the Italian release ofGame of Thrones.[29][39]
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie | Luca Bigazzi,Director of Photography | Nominated | [40] |
| Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) | Ludovica Ferrario,Production Designer Alexandro Maria Santucci,Art Director Laura Casalini,Set Decorator | Nominated | |||
| 2017 | 75th Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | Jude Law | Nominated |
| DVD release date | Blu-ray release date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Region A | Region B |
| 6 June 2017[41][42] | 26 December 2016[43] | 28 June 2017[44] | 6 June 2017[45][46] | 26 December 2016[47] |
