Argentina
Australian Premiere

FRANCISCO: EL PADRE JORGE

Francis: Pray for Me

Based on Elisabetta Piqué’s book, “Pope Francis: Life and Revolution”, this is the most complete screen portrait of Argentinean priest Father Jorge Bergoglio, who in 2013 became Pope Francis I, the 266th and current pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first from the Americas. Pope Francis has been credited with ‘The Francis Effect’ – inspiring a renewed interest in the Church owing to his progressive views, personal humility, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue, not to mention his use of social media .

This film charts the life of the Pope from his childhood in Buenos Aires, where his decision to enter the priesthood was welcomed by his Italian grandmother but brought his mother to tears. It then moves through his early years as a priest through to the controversy surrounding his work during the Argentinean dictatorship of the 1970s, through to becoming Bishop of Buenos Aires, then Cardinal and finally his election as Pope.

A tender portrait of a remarkable life, Francis: Pray For Me features a powerhouse performance by Darío Grandinetti (Talk To Her, Wild Tales, The Dark Side of the Heart) as Francis.

Director:
Beda Docampo Feijoo
Cast:
Darío Grandinetti, Silvia Abascal
2015 • 110 MINS • BIOGRAPHICAL DRAMA ARGENTINA / SPAIN / ITALY Spanish with English subtitles
15+ (exemption)
Grandinetti brings warmth and understanding to his interpretation of Bergoglio.
LA NACION
  • NOMINATED Argentinean Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences – Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design