The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968)

Actors: Peter Copley (actor), George Pravda (actor), Arnoldo Foà (actor), Vittorio De Sica (actor), John Gielgud (actor), Laurence Olivier (actor), Arthur Howard (actor), David Janssen (actor), Burt Kwouk (actor), Åke Lindman (actor), Niall MacGinnis (actor), Marne Maitland (actor), Leo McKern (actor), Frank Finlay (actor), Anthony Quinn (actor),

Plot: Set in a futuristic vision of the late 1980's, Ukrainian Archbishop Kiril Lakota is set free after two decades as a political prisoner in Siberia. He is brought to Rome by Fr. David Telemond, a troubled young priest who befriends him. Once at the Vatican, he is immediately given an audience with the Pope, who elevates him to Cardinal Priest. The world is on the brink of war due to a Chinese-Soviet feud made worse by a famine caused by trade restrictions brought against China by the U.S. When the Pontiff suddenly dies, Lakota's genuine character and unique life experience move the College of Cardinals to elect him as the new Pope. But Pope Kiril I must now deal with his own self-doubt, the struggle of his friend Fr. Telemond who is under scrutiny for his beliefs, and find a solution to the crisis in China.

Keywords: archbishop, based-on-novel, bishop, cardinal-the-priest, catholic-church, catholic-mass, catholic-priest, church, cold-war, conclave
Genres: Drama,

Quotes:

Kiril Lakota: There is only one area to search. And if love is mislaid, where did you see it last? And if you can't remember, maybe there was no love in the first place.::Dr. Ruth Faber: Oh, there was.::Kiril Lakota: Then it is mislaid and you must find it.

Dr. Ruth Faber: We're all in prison one way or another.::Kiril Lakota: Yes, and those who understand it, suffer most of all.

Kiril Lakota: My brothers, if this is the last sound made by the last living man, it must be shouted loud and clear. Life is a gift of God.

Cardinal Leone: Do you accept election?::[Kiril hesitates]::Cardinal Leone: You must answer now. Do you accept election?::Kiril Lakota: I accept. And may God have mercy on me.::Cardinal Leone: By what name will you be called?::Kiril Lakota: We choose to be called by our own name, Kiril. He was the saint that first brought the Gospels into our country.

Kiril Lakota: [the Soviet representative has just informed Kiril of the conditions of his release, namely that he keep his mouth shut about conditions in the USSR] I cannot accept these conditions.::Piotr Ilyich Kamenev: They have been accepted for you.

George Faber: The bell tolls. The Pope is dead. Listen to the bell. [Crossed himself. Cut to multiple shots of mourners in the streets of Rome] This is the death knell that rings... only for the pontiff. Listen - there is a second bell. Soon they will be joined by other bells all over the city, all over every city, all over the world. The Pope is dead.

Cardinal Rinaldi: [standing before the cardinals in the conclave] My brothers. My brothers, we have already failed seven times to reach an election. I stand now to claim a right under canon law. In all humility, I proclaim to you my belief that there is among us a man already marked by God to sit in the chair of St. Peter. Like the first of the apostles this man has suffered prison stripes for the faith. The hand of God has led him out of bondage to join us in this conclave. I announce him as my candidate and dedicate to him my vote and my obedience. Kiril Cardinal Lakota.::Kiril Lakota: [Stunned. Slowly rises] Thank you, Eminence. But I - I cannot consent to it.::Cardinal Rahamani: [after a moment, rises] I too proclaim him.::Asian Cardinal: [Rises] I also proclaim him.

George Faber: It's the Russian. Kiril Lakota. They've elected a Russian Pope.

Piotr Ilyich Kamenev: I took you to pieces like a watch. And put you together again. It was a very intimate experience. I have never been able to forget it. May I ask you a question?::Kiril Lakota: You never hesitated before.::Piotr Ilyich Kamenev: [laughs] That is true.::[Holds up a file]::Piotr Ilyich Kamenev: This is you. Political prisoner 103592R, Kiril Pavlovich Lakota. All of you is here, from the day you were born until now. Except for the answer to one question. What have you learned in twenty years of confinement?::Kiril Lakota: That is a big question, Piotr Ilyich.::Piotr Ilyich Kamenev: The answer is important to me, you know.::Kiril Lakota: What I have learned? I have learned that without some kind of loving a man withers like a grape on a dying vine.::Piotr Ilyich Kamenev: Is that all?::Kiril Lakota: [Chuckles] I am trying to learn more.::Piotr Ilyich Kamenev: Have you learned enough to face freedom?::Kiril Lakota: [Long Pause] I have been free for a long time. Not entirely, perhaps. But you have not answered my question. Why have you brought me here?::Piotr Ilyich Kamenev: I want to show you a world gone mad.

George Faber: Were you ill treated during your confinement?::Kiril Lakota: Oh, not for a long time now. More recently I have been working in heavy industry.::George Faber: To that extent, then, you did submit yourself to the system.::Kiril Lakota: In so far, Mr. Faber, as any system provides bread, work and dignity I am prepared to cooperate with it. These things are good in themselves whether they exist in Rome or in Siberia. And bread, work, and dignity do exist in Siberia.