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Pope Joan
Die Päpstin
2009 149 min Germany, Italy, Morocco, Spain 18+
★7.1
Drama, History, Romance
Director: Sönke Wortmann
📖 Based on the novel
«Pope Joan»
byDonna Woolfolk Cross
Trailers
Description
A 9th century woman of English extraction born in the German city of Ingelheim disguises herself as a man and rises through the Vatican ranks.
Worldwide:
$28.75M
Starring
Johanna Wokalek
Actor
David Wenham
Actor
John Goodman
Actor
Awards
6 wins & 6 nominations total
Key opinion
Die Päpstin is widely appreciated for its immersive medieval atmosphere and Johanna Wokalek's committed lead performance. While many viewers find the historical drama engaging and poignant, others criticize its narrative predictability, occasional anachronisms, and uneven character motivations.
| Acting | Johanna Wokalek delivers a compelling and physically nuanced performance that effectively anchors the film. | |
| Production | The film succeeds in creating a vivid, authentic-feeling medieval world through high-quality production design and atmospheric detail. | |
| Score | The musical score is well-integrated and enhances the narrative's emotional progression. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay relies on predictable genre tropes and clichés, leading to a narrative that some find dry or lacking in original spark. | |
| Ending | The emotional impact and satisfaction with the conclusion are divided; some find the tragic ending profound and heavy, while others find it unsatisfying or tonally discordant with the character's journey. | |
| Pacing | While many viewers find the 2.5-hour runtime well-paced and dynamic, others feel the story lacks sufficient depth to justify its length or that it occasionally drags. |