Becoming one of the world’s most popular and influential figures doesn’t make someone happy. This is the lesson learned by the protagonist at the beginning of Saving Grace, 1986 drama directed by Robert M. Young. A year after being elected to lead Catholic Church, Pope Leon XIV (played by Tom Conti) is facing life that consists of endless protocol, audiences and dealing with Vatican bureaucracy. He increasingly feels isolated from the rest of the world and begins to doubt that anything he does have any impact outside Vatican walls, especially after encounter with Isabella (played by Marta Zoffoli), young deaf mute girl from impoverished village of Montepetra. One day, while gardening, he gets accidentally locked out of Vatican walls and, dressed in regular clothes, begins to wander on the streets of Rome where apparently nobody recognises him. He ultimately decide to visit Isabella’s village. There he finds community burdened by the effects of epidemics, earthquake and, most notably, lack of self esteem among population. After taking lodging at local widow Lucia (played by Patricia Mauceri) under assumed name he decides to start project of repairing local aqueduct. At first he can rely only on local orphans and his work is met by scepticism by cynical shepherd Abalardi (played by Giancarlo Giannini), while local thugs led by Ciolino (played by Edward James Olmos) are openly hostile. In the meantime, Pope’s loyal assistants Cardinal Biondi (played by Fernando Rey) and Cardinal Ghezzi (played by Erland Josephson) must find ingenious excuses to explain Pope’s long absence to the rest of the world.
Based on the novel by Celia Gittelson, this film employs basic plot of which was used plenty of time in literature and film (most notably in Roman Holiday). What makes it interesting is use of Pope as protagonist, which adds religion as an important motive in the story. That aspect is taken very seriously, not only by characters, but also by scriptwriters and this seriousness many times drowns aspects and subplots that could be valuable source of comedy. Film actually best works in the beginning, when we are introduced to the protagonist and his existential crisis. Things become to deteriorate during rather improbable and ineptly made scene when Pope’s departure from Vatican conveniently coincides with World Cup final match and resulting Italian victory lead to street celebrations that, compared with such events in real life, make Saving Grace look much cheaper than it actually is. Second part of the film, which takes place in Montepetra, is burdened with cliches, including those inherited from westerns in which a newcomer cleans up town in bad shape. What is even worse is that Young deliberately made not only village, but their inhabitants, look like nothing has changed in past few decades. While it is conceivable that at least some parts of Italy in mid 1980s looked like Third World (and some might even today), showing the community without modern technology makes Saving Grace very dated. In many ways this segment of the film gives impression of being time-warped from late 1940s and early 1950s when famous works of Italian neorealism dealt with similar subjects and settings. Young also have issues with pacing and the Saving Grace is overlong, with less patient viewers feeling underwhelmed with its predictable ending. What helps this film and ultimately makes it watchable is Tom Conti, one of the most underrated actors of his generations. Conti, who also co-wrote the screenplay, is very good in creating sympathy for the main character, showing the very human side of one of the most beloved and respected world’s figures, displaying both doubt, burden of responsibility and sense of humour and creating one of the warmest and most sympathetic characters of his career. Conti perhaps did too good job, because comparison between fictional pope and his real life counterpart John Paul II were more likely to be to the detriment of the latter. That and sensitivity towards potential Catholic audiences might have played part in making Saving Grace one of the more obscure titles of its time. Although fans of Tom Conti are likely to appreciate this film, average viewers shouldn’t feel too bad if they miss it.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/102066-saving-grace Critic: AA
