The Shoes of the Fisherman
by Michael Anderson
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anthony Quinn, David Janssen, Leo Mckern, Sir John Gielgud, Vittorio De SicaDirector: Michael Anderson
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Latin (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Widescreen, 2.40:1
Running Time: 162 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-04-04
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Model: 65174
Studio: Warner Home Video
Movie Reviews of The Shoes of the Fisherman
Movie Review: IN THE WAKE OF VATICAN II
Summary: 5 Stars
The 1968 film SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN gives us a privilaged view of the inner workings of the Vaticana as direct result of the death of one Pope and the election of another. The main character is Kiril Lakota, a Ukranian Eastern Rite Catholic bishop serving a 20 year sentence in a Soviet work camp in Siberia. We're never told why he is there. The Chairman of the U.S.S.R.,
Pitor Ilyich Kamenev, played by Sir Lawrence Olivier, brokers a deal with the Vatican to set Lakota free and return him to the West, all with very little public fanfare. In fact, the predictably crayola-dull David Jansen character of George Faber, an American reporter working for the BBC in Rome, is offered the story as an exclusive. Faber's character latter annoys us to no end with his petty affair with a English speaking presumably Italian teenie type tart, as opposed to his genuinely attractive, yet cold and distant doctor wife. A troubled marraige that certainly seems salvagable, but who would want to live life with such a drag as Jansen? Anyhow, no sooner is Bishop Lakota released than he is promoted to Cardinal by Sir John Gielgood's Pope Pius XIII, than the Holy Father dies. For the non-Catholic fans in the audience, Pius XIII seems very plausible, since he would have been the successopr to Pius XII, the Church's last reasonably conservative pope. This, of course, is fiction. After the shortand some say suspicious demise of John Paul I, we got a very different pontiff, John Paul II. We also have in the story , the personage of, likely the real-life priest Teilhard de Chardin, in the movie role of Fr. David Telremond, played by Oscar Werner. This young priest is a brilliant theologian and an amateur paleantologist, and has written several books, all unpublished, concerning the dilemma of a "cosmic Christ." This is a questuion which the Werner's character struggles with to the point of great torment, eventually he dies due to a cerebral tumor and hemmorage. Perhaps his very real medical crisis has influenced his theology?
During a coffee break for the sequestered Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel papal election process, Lakota is asked about his life in prison camp, and though these are innocent questions from well-meaning cardinals, he relates that sometimes extreme measures are necessary to defend life and liberties, a theme that was close to the heart of the author Morris West. To the shock of his brother cardinals, he admits he stole bread and fed it to a prisoner who had been beated by a gaurd, and on another occassion, he fought a brutal guard and nearly killed him to defend another man. The stoic Cardinal Rinaldi, played by Vitorrio de Sica, and looking every bit like a REAL prince of the Church, is deeply moved by this confession, and upon the resumption of the afternoon election session, rises to proclaim Lakota as "being touched by the hand of God." He pleges his loyalty and obedience to him as the next pope. Soon another cardinal follows suit, and another until a majority is evident. Lakota nearly panics and only after looking deeply within himself, doe he accept election. The immediate and unselfish display of love, brotherhiood and allegiance shown by the group of cardinals is proof of the Church's wonderful gift of speaking with one voice to themselves, and now, more than ever in history, must speak also to the world. Pope Lakota I must now confront that crisis which he became privy to the day of his release from Soviet internment. The Communist Chinese military is threatening to invade Soviet territory rich in rice , minerals and other necessities because of the extreme hardships of the Chinese peple and the waves of famine decimating their country. The U.S.S.R. thinks the relaes of Lakota could help temper the situation, but they never contemplated a UKRANIAN POPE!!! Now what?
Lakota I agrees to meet with the beligerant parties and after tense negotiations, returns to the Vatican to announce his decision to his circle of theological advisors. Nearly all are opposed, if not at least severely skeptical. Only Cardinal Leone, Leo McKern, supports him unequivically. He says to Lakota, "tu est Petrus." You are Peter. Enough said. Earlier, Leone came to the Holy Father to confess his sin of jelousy, aimed at the young Fr. Telremond, now deceased, because, as Leone says, "I though I deserved your attention and affection, because I am old." Initially, the pope shuns his request for absolution, but Leone reminds the pontiff, with the greatest respect, that "you ARE a priest, and I am a soul in distress." How true.
The finale of the film is the announcement, on the day of his coronation, that the Church will give all her wealth, her art treasuers, her lands, her money for the releif of the starving masses in China, as well as any others in such need. He proclaims this from the balcony of the Vatican and beseaches the weathy nations of the world to follow suit. At first, the crowd is near silent, then slowly, the cheers begin to rise. Idealist? yes, maybe. Impossible? not really. As a Catholic, I can tell you that while St thomas Aquinas and St Dominic were two of our greatest, so were Sts. Benedict and Francis and, especially my guy, St Anthony of Padua, born filthy-rich and abandonned it for the calling of penitence and poverty and prayer. And, still the Church survived. This is a very fine film for me personally, in light of my understanding of the post-vatican II Catholic Faith, an understanding which I continue to learn about and which I find vitaly necessary as an insight into this movies's plot and characters. Highly recommeded to all faiths.
God Bless You.
Summary of The Shoes of the Fisherman
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