Cardinal Melville played by the 85 year old Michel Piccoli is chosen and the cry of We Have A Pope goes up but Melville is overcome by self doubt and refuses to accept throwing the Conclave into turmoil.

As thousands of Catholics wait in St Peter's Square the church officials call in a psychoanalyst played by the director, Nanni Moretti, himself, to try to get Melville to accept. But his efforts are hampered by the intervention of church doctrine at odds with psychoanalytic techniques as well as the fact that he is an atheist.

Before this theme can develop Melville takes off to meander through the streets of Rome on a journey of soul searching and self discovery where he draws wisdom from the conversations of ordinary people. Moretti stays behind in the Vatican to play cards with the church officials and help them organize a volley tournament. Moretti is funny and brash as an actor as well as a director and brings just the right light hearted touch to the action. Piccoli turns in a deeply moving performance as he searches his soul to understand if he can accept the responsibility that the Papal office must bring. This must count among his finest performances.

As a director Moretti is less scathing and less political than other films especially his recent The Caiman a merciless take on Silvio Berlusconi. It also has to be said that shuttling back and forth between his two characters, one in the Vatican and one on the streets of Rome, does not always work as a narrative device.

Where Moretti excels is in witty and audience friendly comedy. He draws outstanding performances when working with his actors. Among these is Polish actor Jerzy Stuhr who adds to the fun as he steps in to manage events and to try to buy time while the crisis is resolved. His discussions with Moretti, the atheist psychoanalyst, about how to "cure" the reluctant Pope without trespassing on church doctrine are one of the comic highlights of the film.

The film has been shot with beautifully recreated sets of the Vatican and is a visual as well as comic treat for audiences. Perhaps this film lacks some of the tough political satire of the director's other films but audiences will not be disappointed.

Credits:

Director: Nanni Moretti

Screenplay: Nanni Moretti, Francesco Piccolo, Federica Pontremoli

Cast: Michel Piccoli, Nanni Moretti, Jerzy Stuhr, Renato Scarpa, Franco Graziosi, Margherita Buy, Dario Cantarelli

Production: Fandango (Italy) Sacher (Italy) Le Pacte (France)

Foreign Sales: Fandango Portobello Sales