Cinematic masterpiece with Topbesetzung

What else is there to say about this film, as one: outstanding! I would not say much, the description can be found above in Amazon to content of the film itself. Anthony Quinn as archbishop of Lviv Kyrill Lakota or Pope Cyril plays the role of the (then 1968) awarded the first Eastern European pope, exceeded only by the brilliant Oskar Werner as Father Telemon, the well is in the movie at the zenith of his acting expressiveness. Sir Laurence Olivier as pope (Paul VI?) Rounds out the excellent cast of this film.
For the inquisitive cineastes and Vatican-interested, the film also offers a good insight into the mysterious world of the conclave - the papal election. Director Michael Anderson has well researched and brought this millennia-old ritual very realistic and fascinating to view.
The film itself tells three parallel stories, the history of the 20th years imprisoned in a Siberian prison Archbishop of Lviv (Anthony Quinn), who is elected shortly after his release for the first Eastern European Pope and is intended to provide for peace between East and West (which is John XXIII had. actually done successfully during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1961 between the then Soviet President Khrushchev and US President John F. Kennedy). Specifically, it is about the hunger threatened soon to a rebellion, Chinese Communist giant empire and living in abundance West. Pope Cyril decides at the end of the film the riches of the Roman Catholic Church to sell to send the proceeds to the poor of this world, an intention that to intend in real Life 10 years later in 1978 and John Paul I. rumored becomes.
The second plot revolves around the terminally ill, but brilliant theologian and philosopher Father Telemon (Oskar Werner), which ultimately breaks the conservative and entrenched power structures in Vatican. It appoints Pope Cyril to his personal adviser and secretary, leading within the Curia to major conflicts, envy and resentment.
The third parallel action describes the dysfunctional relationship between the US TV Vatican correspondent and his wife, a doctor. Again, the influence of Cyril Pope plays a crucial role eventually.
Overall, the film with great effort, great attention to detail to consider a well-designed and innovative scenario and great acting performances succeeded extremely. If you want to quote also something negative, then probably a bit too contrived acting and very unrealistic end of the film. Whatever the film acts if its length of about 2 1/2 hours, although never to be too long, or even long-winded, but you realize towards the end that the producer George Englund should have probably been pushing for the completion of filming, so the last half hour can not quite keep up with the genius of the first two hours (maybe it is also because Oskar Werner died in the role of Father Telemon previously).
I own both the (excellent dubbed) German version, as well as the original English version ("The Shoes of the Fisherman"). Both versions are highly recommended, although usually the original version is the better. In "The Shoes of the Fisherman" If this is fortunately not to, not least by the fact that Oskar Werner was won for his role synchronization.
Unfortunately, there is currently in the German trade is neither a VHS version, nor a bilingual DVD version, which is very regrettable (the same goes for the equally excellent film "The Name of the Rose", even here there is from me incomprehensible reasons no DVD version, which is a much better picture and sound quality provides not only, but also to compare the advantage that original version and the dubbed version on disk - very unfortunate).