Pope Joan (2009) User Reviews (24)

historical novel

[georgioskarpouzas · 8/10 · 18 November 2009]

Although critics in my native Greece were very circumspect when valuing this movie I disagree with them. Many found that it lacked grandiose crowds in the battle and acclamation of the Pope scenes, but I think that in reality medieval battles and the assembly of Roman plebeians acclaiming the Pope must not have been particularly grandiose events and that added a quality of realism to the movie.

Also the structure of the story, the equivalent of what Germans call Bildungsroman-that is the process of the development of character through life, was presented in a very able manner, showing the evolution of Joan, a simple but charismatic country girl, to supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

The love story subplot was also good adding romance to a tale that would have been dull otherwise and proving that even scholarly girls are not immune to the pleasures of the flesh.

I have to comment on the acting of Ms Wokalek, which I found admirable in the way that it portrayed the subdued power of the character of Joan under a facade of neutral manners and also the surprise role of John Goodman who played a larger than life exuberant and kindly Pope.

The evocation of the age was also excellent avoiding excesses, and presenting the mendacity of peasant life in the villages as well as the relative luxury of the ruling classes.

Of course the main point of the story concerned the barriers that gender and class posed to a talented poor woman during that dark age. I think the story has similarities with that of Joan of Ark. The final surprise, which I will not disclose, must have been a novelistic devise relative to modern concerns about the Church invented by the author of the novel on which the movie was based and not an integral part of the Pope Joan legend as preserved through the ages.

All in all a very able movie which I greatly enjoyed. It is a pity that the response of the Greek critics was at best lukewarm.

Great fun for anyone who loves historical movies!!

[Naurya · 8/10 · 27 October 2009]

I went to see Pope Joan with a group of friends the day it was released in Germany. Most of us had already read the book, but some had not. We were all quite skeptical as to whether the movie would be true to the book and whether it wasn't a little too long (two and a half hours seemed a lot to us!). But, after having seen it, I must say it was one of the most absorbing two-and-half-hours-movie I've ever seen. I didn't have a look at my watch once.

The story is quite true to the book. I read the book at least 8 years ago, so I had forgotten most of it. However, when the plot evolved, my memory came back and I didn't notice any major deviances from the book, neither did my friends.

"Pope Joan" is just a classical historical movie and everyone who loves that genre, will most certainly enjoy the movie! It has everything you need: a charismatic heroine who challenges the role of women in her time; some good and wise clergymen (John Goodman is great fun as food-loving, jovial Pope!); some evil and brutal clergymen who want to spread Christianity violently; some scheming and intrigues; a good portion of war and battle scenes; a romantic love story and, last but not least that interesting question at the end that will certainly cause you to discuss with your friends and search wikipedia: Was there really a woman who became Pope?

Boasting a virtuoso lead performance by German actress Johanna Wokalek, this historical epic is engrossing from start to finish

[moviexclusive · 7/10 · 9 August 2010]

This legendary tale of a woman who briefly ascended to the papal throne may be set in the ninth century, but its themes and its subject matter is as relevant now as it was before. In fact, the German-made, English-language "Pope Joan" arrives at a time when the Catholic Church is once again facing calls to allow women to be ordained priests- especially since in the wake of the recent paedophilia scandal in Europe, some point the cause to the Church's insistence on a male, celibate priesthood.

Adapted from the bestseller by Donna Woolfolk Cross, the legend of Pope Joan goes that said woman posed as a man to enter the Benedictine monastery and rose to the favour of the previous pope due to her great intellect and learning. Yet after a reign of a few years, she gave birth to a baby during a papal procession and was torn apart by an angry mob. Whether this is fact or fiction is up to you to decide, though this adaptation which begins with a French bishop arriving in Rome to enter Joan's story in the papal archives wants you to believe its authenticity.

The bishop's dictation frames the flow of the movie, which attempts to chronicle the life of Joan right from the time of her difficult birth to a fundamentalist village priest (Iain Glen) and his Saxon wife (Joerdis Triebel) to the time of her death in front of the Roman crowds. Even from a young age, we learn that Joan possessed extraordinary wisdom and an insatiable crave for knowledge. So despite her misogynistic father's opposition to girls receiving any form of education, she picks up reading and writing and even Scripture itself.

These early years are presented with a bleakness and austerity that effectively, if manipulatively, gets the audience's sympathies firmly with Joan. As her father makes Joan watch him physically abuse her mother for not objecting to Joan's learning of Scripture, and then whips her severely for what he perceives as a grievous offence, it's hard not to root for the brilliant and bright Joan to break free from the chains of her father's misogyny.

But that liberation is not to come till much later, even as the chance visit of a religious teacher marks her initiation into the religious life. Together with her brother Johannes, Joan is sent to study under the bishop of Dorstadt where she meets Gerold (David Wenham), a knight whom the teenage Joan slowly falls in love with. After the invading Norse army ambushes their village while Gerold is away, Joan binds her breasts and trims her hair, beginning her impersonation as her brother Johannes by joining the Fulda Abbey.

Unfolding at a brisk pace, director Soenke Wortmann (of the German hit "The Miracle of Bern") deftly keeps the proceedings taut and the tension palpable, as Joan takes care to conceal her identity. When at the brink of being discovered, Joan journeys to Rome where she is first appointed as a physician to Pope Sergius (John Goodman) and slowly grows to become his personal adviser. After he is murdered by his own courtiers, Joan is chosen by the people of Rome as his successor, her election as Pope a carefully calculated sweet triumph for its audience.

Yet it's not nearly enough for Joan to be Pope, her chance meeting with Gerold igniting her feelings for him and their eventual coupling resulting in her pregnancy. This reviewer must admit first and foremost that this turn of events didn't sit with his personal convictions too well- not for the fact that Pope Joan was female, but for her blatant disregard of the Church's understanding of celibacy. Bearing in mind she was firstly ordained and secondly unwed, should Pope Joan have given in to her feelings and consummated with Gerold? Would such an intelligent woman have acted so callously with little regard of the inevitable consequences? Where art thou would she command any moral authority as the head of the Church? Of course, such is the controversial nature of the legend that has remained hugely debated over the years, but it is inevitable that some audiences will find the material troubling. Nonetheless, it isn't less of a film just because it has chosen to tackle a topic of such divisive nature. Rather, lead actress Johanna Wokalek anchors the movie with an emotionally rousing performance portraying Joan's steeliness and vulnerability in equal measure. Best known for her roles in Til Schweiger's Barfuss and Uli Edel's The Baader Meinhof Complex, Wokalek not only looks the part, but plays it with gusto and aplomb.

Yet it's easy to overlook Wokalek's brilliant acting in the film because of its subject matter which, as this reviewer has pointed out, remains as relevant today and therefore disputatious. It's best therefore that one approaches this with an open mind, and if necessary, a piece of fiction- for you will discover that this handsomely mounted historical epic is riveting and rousing from start to finish.

beautiful

[Kirpianuscus · 31 July 2016]

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.

Incredible portrayal of 9th-century life

[Caryn-2 · 7/10 · 21 January 2012]

I'd vaguely heard of Pope Joan, but didn't know until looking her up this morning that she almost certainly didn't exist; I don't know if I would have watched the movie, knowing it was based on a novel I hadn't read. It was kind of slow-moving, and didn't have the lush costumes that are often my favorite part of historical movies, but it did have the most accurate portrayal I've ever seen of life in the middle ages. At the beginning of the movie I was surprised to see the title character's mother giving birth right in front of two other children, but then remembered that, just as people were conceived in full view of the household, they were born that way as well. As the movie went along, there was nothing missing but the smell! Several years of watching The Highlander didn't give me as graphic a view of what a beheading must actually look like as this movie did, and other details were just as they would have been. I'd recommend this movie most heartily to history majors and anyone who thinks the vanished past was glamorous.

A flawed masterpiece

[diz-syd-63 · 7/10 · 11 April 2013]

I realise many criticise this movie for being 'based on fiction' but hey. It's a move and very good entertainment at that. I loved all the actors EXCEPT John Goodman who was cringeworthy as Pope Sergius. In particular, Johanna Wokalek is a revelation, I love her simplicity and pure spirt, at least that's how her "Joan" came across to me. The mediæval setting is well done, though lacks the glorious costumes of high budget productions. There is criticism that the crowd scenes are a little uncrowded, I didn't notice this at all. David Wenham's a gorgeous actor with an amazing voice I love his rendition of the almost gormless Gerold, so ruggedly handsome. I also like the all to short role Iain Glen was given as the Village Priest, what wonderful acting. Much praise also to the very sweet Tigerlilly Hutchinson (Tigerlilly??), she plays the young Joan with aplomb. Not the best historical drama I've seen but an excellent one, only thing missing was the fragrance of mediæval europe.

Best historical movie of they year?

[nicco77 · 10/10 · 8 April 2010]

It is for sure one of the best movies about ancient history and educated women that I seen so far, what makes this unique is that Joan strives to excel in religion and science.

She comes from a traditional middle-ages background where women are uneducated so she has to learn how to look and act like a man to be able to follow her passion, this creates a constant struggle to hide her true gender.

Her intelligent and strength in human character shines through the canvas and what she manages to accomplish in her lifetime was phenomenal!

One of those little gems

[david-hawkridge · 7/10 · 25 April 2015]

Didn't know what to expect from a movie called "Pope Joan"! I was pleasantly surprised how good and believable the story was in the first half. I am not going to try and say what the rights and wrongs are of women reaching high office in the church are. For me this was triumph over adversity with understated acting by the lead character. Not sure about the romance side of the film, it didn't seem to add much to the plot there was no real build up to the relationship. The first half of the film was more interesting than the second again the plot seemed to get lost and the characters were not as strong. In saying that I still found myself intrigued by the film. If your wondering if its a film worth watching I think its more than worthwhile. All in all I still enjoyed it even though the plot and characters could have been bit stronger.

Between Cameron, Wortmann and Cross, War is ending. Zimbardo lives.

[Lawsonk-1 · 10/10 · 17 June 2010]

This movie is about the indomitable spirit of many of our species regardless of race or sex. It's not about liberal or conservative, it's about right or wrong. Not about girl or boy, but about the abilities of each of us to advance the human cause on this earth. It's not about Buddist, Jew or Christian but about aleivating all the suffering we can. Consider that for one month of the cost of the war in the middle east, every human could have access to clean drinking water. Who knows where the next Einstein or TuTu will come from, surely the potential exists and needs a chance to show itself without the intolerance of prejudice for one of a different color, sex or the distance from your home they come. We have a duty to expand our knowledge and expose all to the light of reason and in that we have no fear. This movie is a gift to parents and adults that want to find the ways to help all. Ignorance is not bliss, the scene about the mustard seed is worth the price of this great movie. Allegory is when your teacher thanks you. Thank you mother.

Wokalek and Flack are superb and a joy. John Goodman is like your pastor or priest and as amiable as I imagine JohnPaul II. Petherbridge as Aesculapius is exactly my image of Hesse's Magister Ludi and Wenham, a developing Chomsky, could of evolved into a Smedly Butler! For those in power this could be a great mini-series for all involved, IMHO. Villains don't get a mention, sry Iain and AT. m.

Preachy, Pretentious, & Pathetic "Pope Joan"

[chiara1194 · 1/10 · 19 June 2012]

"Pope Joan" is a movie with a message, or rather an agenda, and it shoves it down the throats of the audience with the subtlety of a jackhammer. This piece of dreck will surely insult the intelligence of anyone with a 9th-grade education or higher.

In a pathetic attempt to give the script a pseudo-intellectual tone, the writers lifted selections from Western Philosophy 101, the New International Version, Introduction to Feminism, and 19th Century anti-Catholic propaganda and recycled it in the form of pretentious dialogue; "I think, therefore God exists?!" Misquoting Renee Descartes and adding a little bit of the Ontological Argument doesn't make laughably bad lines like "I think, therefore God exists" actually logical. If the writers wanted to give the audience a lesson in philosophy and Church History, they could have skipped this piece of historically inaccurate fiction and made a film about St. Anselm of Canterbury (but that would have been a snooze). When reading about the woman who wrote the book on which this film is based, it turns out that "Pope Joan" is her only novel; the rest of her publications are self-help books. Go figure.

In a pathetic attempt to convince us that the mission of the Catholic Church is to keep knowledge, love, and responsibility away from women, this film insults the real women of the early Catholic Church who paved the way for female dignity. Those women were called nuns. From the time that St. Scholastica founded the first women's monastery in the 6th Century up until the present, Catholic nuns have managed the business affairs of their self-sufficient communities, dedicated themselves to learning and knowledge, composed music, and written scholarly works unsurpassed by men. They fought off invaders, risked their lives to found new communities in foreign countries, stood up to Popes and kings, refused to be used as pawns in arranged marriages, and were disowned by their families all for the sake of becoming closer to God through prayer, knowledge, and love. They did all of this without having to deceive themselves and others by denying their womanhood or hopping in bed with some man, unlike the title character of this movie. At least the film mentions St. Catherine of Alexandria, and there are hundreds more women Saints whose stories are equally gripping: Hildegarde von Bingen, Catherine of Siena, Clare of Assisi, Agnes of Prague, Colette of Corbie, Teresa of Avila, Elisabeth of Hungary, just to name a few. Read the letters or autobiographies of many of these women (you'd never guess from "Pope Joan," but yes, medieval Catholic women did in fact know how to write!) rather than watching a movie; most films about the Saints are sugar-coated and poorly acted.

That being said, even the corniest Saint movies aired on EWTN are better than the cardboard acting in "Pope Joan."

The Best 2 Or More Hours In Front Of The Tele This Year. 2/9/2013

[john-138-904908 · 9/10 · 2 September 2013]

This film was released in 2009, I was surfing Youtube, and I accidentally came upon the trailer. I love a historical drama, and I know a little about Pope Joan, and I didn't understand how I missed knowing about this film till now (2013) I suppose the promotion of foreign language films in Ireland is not great. Anyway I got hold of the film.

It started off a bit slow but still you could see that this was an intriguing story on its own. How could a woman become a Pope in one of the foremost matriarch hierarchical societies in the world. It was then and still is. So how could it ever have happened. Historical there are no details and there it is probably a myth rather then fact, but even the myth is compelling.

I watched the film and it was long but always interesting, any good piece on that period of humanity is. As "the life of man, is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" as Hobbes put it. Stories and the history of that age gives you a sense of count your blessings you live in this age. The film did have an agenda, as a reflection of the position of women in this age. I didn't mind that, Joan was forced to struggle and overcome the cultural limitations placed on her sex to express her natural humanity and intelligence, as millions of women still struggle with the same in this age. I would love to say things are wholely better in this age for women, but I know in parts of this modern world it is still very much the same. Women's march for equality is very far from over. So that seemed a natural agenda to push for a tale about a woman pope and why not? I would regard myself as a male feminist and the message still needs to be told.

The film was far from perfect, and it could have been a whole lot better, there were scenes that could have been added and omitted, but I still found myself recommending it to friends, and it was one of the best 2 or more hours in front of the tele for me this year. I still loved it to spite its obvious flaws. In the end you can't beat a good story whether that story is true or not.

So watch it and see do you agree with the 6.5 rating for this epic film in scope and tale. I think 6.5 is very unfair, I rate it 9/10.

a wonderful but ill told story

[alianiara · 3/10 · 3 January 2016]

Even as a feminist, I could not stand a movie so ridiculously and awkwardly narrated in a so-called feminist's perspective while all other aspects are neglected. As if had Johanna been born a man, she would have smoothly made her way to the chair of saint peter and become the greatest pope of all time.

Johanna was first and foremost a human being, with flaws and limitations, facing obstacles far more complex than that of her female identity.(poverty being one) The men in this movie, were either female-friendly saints or unreasonable prejudiced beasts. No reason were given to why they were such, nor were there any transitions of any kind.

I know it is difficult to tell a biography story within two hours, but I still have to say it was not very well timed. Nor did give a good focus on Johanna's character. Yes she was a woman, she wanted to do good in the world, but that is applicable to millions of people in history. As a modern woman I wasn't even born so confident to believe that I am no less than a man, but our heroine was so genius that she didn't need to struggle a bit realize her strength. As a story about a pope, it is so superficial on religious matters that it didn't even bother to quote a few lines that we haven't heard of. no wonder there isn't any religious community seeking trouble about this movie---it's not even worth it.

This movie really won't serve as a good example of a feminism movie.

Maybe, a parable

[Vincentiu · 14 February 2011]

The story is old. The details are spices of dusty legend. The tragedy of a Roman Church "accident" is chapter of many conspiracy books. But, behind that things, "Pope Joan" is a beautiful film. And this fact is important.For costumes and atmosphere, for extraordinary John Goodman and for the art of details, for the basic fact than the IX-th century is another XXI century, for the perfume of serenity and the force of a myth to be stronger than reality. For the feeling than Joan exist without any testimony. For the spring air and grass smell. For the art to destroy clichés. For remember of essential values of human circle and the end as fly of ash bird. For the warm impression . Historic movie, it is in fact a parable. Like many who sleeps in our memories.

Engaging and fascinating film.

[adamsoch-1 · 9/10 · 8 May 2011]

Layered with historical facts, legends and fiction Pope Joan gives us an insight of the dreadful condition peasant women endured in the Dark Ages, where education for them was discouraged and even forbidden by the reigning Church. Die Papstin, a fascinating story of a remarkable, ambitious, intelligent and courageous poor woman from the 9th century, whom the Catholic Church wants erased not only from the papal chronicles but also from all historic documents that mentions her existence.

Unwanted only because she was born female, at birth her father, the village priest, was disappointed and believed she was born out of "…punishment from God, for my past sins" a common and foolish creed even in these days, when something dire happens to a believer.

Johanna von Ingelheim at birth, remarkably played by Johanna Wokalek, and latter becomes John Anglicus, a healer, a priest, a linguist, much loved by anyone around her, (by now him), even by then reigning Pope Sergius, played effortlessly by the great John Goodman. After a harsh and violent childhood and after her brother is killed in a Viking attack, she decided to go into the world as a boy, enrolling into a Benedictine monastery where she continues her studies and gains medical knowledge that ultimately gives her entry into the papal circles. The film is well directed, acted and full with lavish images and scenes from the very distant past of the Dark Ages, even if I personally had a problem with the ending; I think it was over dramatized. Nevertheless, I recommend it to all who are interested to know about this extraordinary human being, historical figure, or myth. We will never know for sure, but we know, there is no smoke without fire.

An excellent film, made around an ancient and obscure medieval legend.

[filipemanuelneto · 9/10 · 15 November 2020]

The film makes good use of one of the most obscure and controversial legends surrounding the Papacy: the existence - which for centuries has been the subject of some credit - of a pope who was, in fact, a woman. Disguised as a man in order to receive the education and opportunities that were denied to the female sex, she became a monk and priest, and went to Rome, where she became coadjutor to Pope Sergius II. So relevant was his action that he was eventually elected to succeed him, ruling the Church for some time. According to medieval legend, the truth about this pontiff was made public when he went into labor during a procession. Of course, all of these are medieval legends, very much influenced by the medieval conscience, implicit between the lines, that women would have the capacity to shine, if they wanted and were given space, in the most important positions and positions.

The film is quite good and it was able to build on top of the original medieval legend a story that, in addition to entertaining quite well, sounds pertinent in the current panorama of Catholicism: for centuries the role of women in the heart of the Church was not something so debated and controversial as it has been lately. Joana's family represents the mentality of the time: the man commanded, decided, and the woman supported, supported the home, had children. Do not think that this was a uniform portrait: there are immense examples of medieval women who have distinguished themselves at the most diverse levels. But do not think, too, that the submission of women was something contested by women. Much more controversial was the religious shock, slightly addressed by the natural beliefs that Joana's mother, in this series, keeps hidden from her husband. Religious tolerance was not part of the European medieval world, or it was residual and fluctuating, perhaps even more present in the areas of Southern Europe, where interfaith contact was more frequent.

The film is based on a good performance by Johanna Wokalek, an actress who had never seen her work but who seemed very competent, safe and at ease with her character. She was perfect for the character, and knew how to use every moment to shine. Equally, remarkable was the work of David Wenham, who gave life to a nobleman with whom Joana falls in love and with whom he becomes involved, and John Goodman, an already veteran actor who does a wonderful job of giving life to the burly and authoritarian Sérgio II. Iain Glen gave life to the most execrable character in the film, but he did it impeccably, worthy of the actor's talent.

Directed by Soenke Wortmann, the film takes place at a relatively fast pace, taking into account the story told and the way it seems to want to show a lot in a relatively short time. Even so, it is a film of two and a half hours, which pass without being felt given the quality of the finished product. The film was able to take advantage of CGI and filming on location to create an appealing and interesting vision of the European 9th century. Cinematography works quite well and the effects and CGI used were able to shine without obscuring the story or depriving it of realism and a reasonable dose of credibility. The sets and costumes work equally well, in particular the whole costume of the Pope, loaded with authority and symbols that, even today, are easily recognized by any Catholic.

Too simplified to be believable

[clever4us · 2/10 · 30 December 2011]

The story does not appear to have good characterization. People were either 100 Percent good or 100 Percent bad. Real people with extreme rare exception have both good and bad traits. The simple characterizations made the movie too kid like. Also, the events were not really believable. The probability that the girl who the heroine helped when living in squalor, just so happened to be the woman to accidentally find the heroine before she almost died and who later happened to become the bishop of Paris who wrote the book to tell the story is just extremely low. Also the love story that the man who helped the heroine when she was a little girl in Germany later happened to come to Rome at the right time to help her when she was in her greatest danger and to be appointed as the chief of the Swiss Guard is as equally unbelievable.

The movie may have been true to the book as its only redeeming feature. For it to be a compelling and interesting historic movie, it would have had to be a lot more nuanced.

As a female Catholic, I was FASCINATED by this story!

[flyn601 · 10/10 · 20 December 2011]

Bet money it's true but the Church will never admit it. The Catholic Church is INFAMOUS for "hiding" truths (i.e. the pedophile priests they've hidden out for years). It's a shame that a woman had to go to those lengths to be able to serve God. It's a shame that women who want to serve cannot; but our churches in the United States are being staffed by priests from foreign countries (i.e. Mexico). This, I strongly believe, is a disservice to United States Catholics! My parish is served by a priest from Mexico and he is a very poor orator. The language barrier is significant and this is something that cannot be overcome by a few ESL classes.

It is NOT an "historical movie", its a fantasy movie...

[sakutu · 1/10 · 19 June 2010]

"Pope Joan" is NOT an historical movie, it is a Fantasy movie like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. We live in a very sad times when garbage like this is taken as "historical" when in fact there has never been a "Pope Joan".

The legend of "Pope Joan" was a bad attempt of political satire during the Middle Age made to attack the Catholic Church. The myth of "Pope Joan" was totally destroyed by historian David Blondel: the story that she was Pope "from 853 to 855" is so lame considering that from 847 to 855 there was already a Pope: Pope Leone IV. So she couldn't have been Pope during that period. Pope Leone IV died in 855, and after a couple of weeks he was succeeded by Pope Benedetto III.

So if you go to watch this movie, keep in mind that you're watching NOT an historical movie, but a fantasy movie. They could've added to the cast Gandalf and Frodo for all that matters, since the whole story of Pope Joan is just a bad and lame satire used in the Middle Age to attack the Catholic Church.

An ultra-liberal, new-agey, feminist fantasy

[hddu10-819-37458 · 30 December 2013]

An ultra-liberal, new-agey, feminist fantasy…but those are really the only people who would care for the subject matter of this mess (unfortunately for the studio, producers and investors involved in this flop). Loosely based on a 13th century joke and subsequent Protestant propaganda from the Reformation period, the story centers on the life of a woman in the Dark Ages who cross-dresses her way to becoming Pope. John Goodman (the only cast member anyone will recognize) proves yet again that he has no problems or pride in accepting bad scripts (anyone remember "King Ralph?). The entire story, dialog and underlying theme is excruciatingly contrived and predictable, and the good news for history is that like the actual subject matter, this film will not get so much as a foot-note.

Adventure, protagonist, background...A complete movie

[spanixtan · 10/10 · 14 December 2019]

This is a fascinating story about the life of a woman with a special character and psychology. Indeed, the movie has its foundations on the kind of role usually played by Johanna Wokalek. But besides the protagonist and the role of a woman, the events are in themselves thrilling, sometimes even riveting. The background is rich and attractive: we are able to witness peasant life at a time and era quite unknown in history, reduced to kings, popes, battles... and little daily life of the topical feudal pyramid society. Imagination plays a major role. Could it have been a real event, one more of those astounding facts lost among the chronicles of the dark ages?. Possibility is evident; probability is high.

Even if not true, it is a great story. "Se non é vero é ben trovato."

[frank-merola · 8/10 · 21 April 2020]

The legend of Pope Johanna is controversial at best. What is incontrovertible, however, is how this mythical figure has been capturing and igniting the imaginations of women -- and men -- in the West since at least the 13th century. The thirst for respect, education, power, and responsibility amongst womenfolk is beautifully portrayed in this film. Johanna Wokalek herself is beautiful and believable as Pope Johanna. One is transported back both to the hard, merciless world of 9th century Europe with the recently Christianized, but still heavily pagan-influenced North and the Imperial grandeur of Christianized yet still very Roman Vatican. A truly beautiful, educational, inspiring tale and cinematic portrayal. Breathtaking from beginning to end. P.S. I always find John Goodman a delight to watch!

not very convincing

[petersjoelen · 5/10 · 2 February 2019]

Clearly you can see that she is a woman and not realistic to let your audience believe that no one could see that sooner or later . and if the looks are not enough then you have her voice that is pretty feminen .

Historical drama about the feasible tenure of a woman on the Holy See - a fashionable tribute to feminism or a real event?

[marina_nightingale · 10/10 · 5 November 2021]

Among the ancient scrolls in the Vatican's vault, there is one that tells of a woman who dared to desecrate God. A woman who sold her soul to the devil, encroached on a shrine, capable of deceit - who is she? A sinner or a gift from heaven, whose mission on this earth is to evidence that gender distinctions are minor? This is a story about a woman who was not scared to go towards her aim and attained everything, but the pay was too high...

The plot of the film takes place in a German village in the 9th century. Joan is born into the family of an orthodox priest, a man of power and intolerance of someone else's faith. The mother of the protagonist, being a pagan, dutifully obeys the will of her husband, inducing her children to follow her example. In contrast to her brothers, Joan was distinguished from childhood by a sharp mind and observation. This became the reason for the dissatisfaction of her father, who was profoundly persuaded that a woman's fate is reduced only to maintaining the family hearth and having children. Rejection and incomprehension by members of her family later will become the basis for the formation of the steadfast character of Joan. A keen thirst for knowledge compel the heroine to leave her home to go to get an education in monasteries, which in those days were a storage of specific wealth - scientific treatises on the structure of the world. The dismissive attitude for Joan because of her gender did not stop the heroine in chase of what she wanted. She is compelled to conceal her feminine nature, putting on a male monastic robe, and not a single inhabitant of the monastery could guess about it. Lack of pride and arrogance, genuine love and goodness to people make her name famous, and the news of her reaches Pope Sergius II. Devastated and plundered by the Normans, the cities of medieval Europe are nothing more than a bloody road leading to one of the richest holy places on Earth - the Vatican. The clash of two worlds, two varieties of faith - Christian and pagan - is unavoidable. Joan finds her place next to the Pope by vocation, dreading intrigues from the pretenders to the Holy See. By a fateful coincidence, she becomes the next Pope, concealing her terrible secret.

Indeed, the role of women in the Middle Ages was minimized. Therefore, it is surprising to see how a fearless and wise woman fights for the right to realize her ambitions, for the right to be needed, even if in a man's guise. The most delightfully frightening moment in the film is its ending - cruel and unfair in relation to Joan, but therefore catchy and to some extent instructive.

It would be extremely strange for me not to recommend watching this marvelous film, which I can proudly call a daring masterpiece, unrecognized even among the current representatives of the Holy See. This is a film-revolt, the plot of which is the apotheosis of irrepressible mind against the background of sumptuous historical scenery.

Fraud.

[atselepis27 · 10/10 · 25 December 2011]

I m sorry to comment against you but you should really check this out!Please search in w i k e p e d i a about a Greek literature man Emmanuel Rhoides. There is an age gap between the 2 persons and the story is completely similar. Do something for it. It is really shameful that people can claim pieces of art of their own since it does not belong to them.. I d like to enhance the Greek art and to let people know that the truth is hidden. The first edition of Pope Joan was published in 1886 and for sure this fact is true as long as this literature man was unchurched from the catholic and orthodox church. Please pay some attention to this review...it really worth it