The Young Pope
2016
Original language: Italian
- drama
The story
Lenny Belardo, the youngest and first American Pope in the history of the Church, must establish his new papacy and navigate the power struggles of the closed, secretive Vatican.
What it’s like
Saturated, ornate frames dominate The Young Pope: gilded Vatican halls lit by candlelight and pale daylight through tall windows, sumptuous interiors built around symmetrical compositions and slow, deliberate camera moves. Sorrentino leans on stillness, with long held shots of silent courtyards, cardinals framed like figures in a Renaissance painting, and sudden surreal interludes of sunbaked Italian landscapes and dreamlike crowds. The score is sparse and sustained, often a single swelling organ or a wash of ambient strings against long stretches of quiet, so the show feels grand but hushed. Its vibe is sardonic, lavish and faintly uneasy, a good fit for a late evening alone or a slow weekend binge when you want something stylish and talky. Pacing is measured and often languid, with dry wit cutting through the solemnity. Emotionally it is cool and provocative rather than warm: a headstrong, enigmatic young pontiff resists the institution around him while those closest to him are slowly drawn into his orbit. Intensity is moderate: some sexual content and brief frank talk about desire, with no gore and little physical violence, though the power plotting carries tension. Suited to viewers who enjoy arch, character-driven drama about faith, power and image.
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