A biopic about Pope Francis is getting ready in Argentina.
Alejandro Agresti ( The Lake House ) will direct the film called Historia De Un Cura (A Priest’s Tale) about Jose Mario Bergoglio, whom we now know as Pope Francis.
The events on the film will take us from his childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina to his historic election as leader of the Catholic Church in March. Francis is the first Pope hailing from Latin America, as well as the first Jesuit Pope.
Starring as the pontiff is Rodrigo de la Serna who has starred in several Spanish speaking films, but might be remembered for his brilliant performance in The Motorcycle Diaries, a dramatization of a motorcycle road trip Che Guevara went on in his youth that was critical in forging him forward.
Speaking with Variety , Agresti said this is an origins story and starts with Bergoglio’s trip to Rome to attend the conclave after the announcement of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation.
The Pope Francis biopic is told in flashbacks and flash-forwards and focuses on Bergoglio as a person. The Pope has already made an impact, not only in Rome but around the world for his unconventional way of doing things.
“More than a rapid biopic of key events, I’m more concerned with getting inside this very singular person, his decision to follow his vocation, and how he combined his faith and reason, having studied as a Jesuit for 14 years before being ordained.” Agresti tells Variety.
The director added that he will also focus on Bergoglio’s Italian ancestry and its importance, his work in Buenos Aires’ slums, as well as his austerity and humility.
Spanish and Italian will be the main languages used in the film. It will be a co-production with Italy, since the director says the film already has financing due to private investors.
Variety reports that the film will be shot in Argentina, Italy, and Germany, where Pope Francis attended school.
“Pope Francis is attempting to change things. He can be seen as revolutionary and interests non-Catholics as well.” producer Pablo Bossi adds.
No release date has been announced for the Pope Francis biopic.
