By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: César Charlone | Enrique Fernández
Starring: César Troncoso | Mario Silva | Virginia Méndez | Virginia Ruiz
Original language title: El Baño del Papa
Country: brazil, france, uruguay
Year: 2007
Running time: 97
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482901/
Bruce says: “**SPOILERS**
“On May 8, 1988 the Pope is scheduled to visit Melo, Uruguay. Melo is in northeastern Uruguay and many Brazilians are expected to come over the border in tour buses. Weeks before the event the media creates frenzy. The television newscasters begin with a crowd 20,000 estimate, and then quickly up it to 40,000. Soon 100,000 people are expected to attend. Several
days before the event, news reporters are predicting a crowd of 200,000.
“THE POPE’S TOILET is a ‘behind the scenes’ story of how the Pope’s visit to Melo affects the locals, one family in particular. As the film opens men are frantically pedaling their bikes over the border in the pre-dawn hours, smuggling small amounts of goods into Brazil. For many families, this is how the bread gets on the table. A local policeman patrols the area in his four wheel drive vehicle. He occasionally nabs one of the cyclists who is lagging behind; he confiscates the goods, keeping them for himself.
“As the townspeople of Melo hear the increasing estimates of tourists who will be cramming into their town, the entrepreneurial spirits begin to soar. Calculations are made as to how many empanadas might be purchased, how many beverages might be consumed. 200,000 people cannot go to the bathroom in public. Beto thinks that what is really needed is a toilet. Like his neighbors who are mortgaging their homes and using their life savings to make a quick killing, Beto uses his daughter’s education fund but still falls short of what he needs to finish his toilet. Because he has a bad knee it is unsure if he can cycle fast enough to make the money he needs. Beto enlists his daughter to make smuggling runs. His wife prays that the smuggling runs go smoothly then recoils at her own blasphemy. Family tensions increase as the Pope’s visit nears. Beto finds a way to earn the final amount he needs to finish the toilet although his hot-headedness and foolish guarantees will likely get him into hot
water later.
“Finally it is May 8th and cries of ‘Here comes the Popemobile,’ are heard. The Pope arrives and spends ten minutes in the town square. His blessing holds promises of love, understanding, and a prosperous future. Crowd estimates of 8,000 are likely exaggerated by the 300 journalists on hand. For the people of Melo, their collective dream of prosperity has collapsed. No one is richer, no one has benefited.
“Co-director César Charlone is noted for his work with Fernando Meirelles as cinematographer on CITY OF GOD, THE CONSTANT GARDENER, and the upcoming BLINDNESS. It is interesting that he uses a somewhat different style for THE POPE’S TOILET which is more restrained and at times more claustrophobic than his earlier work.
“It is amazing how a simple little film can resonate so powerfully. 4 cats
“THE POPE’S TOILET screened at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival”