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Few things give movie buffs more enjoyment than comparing and debating their top film lists with fellow fans. Such lists carry extra gravitas when coming from authorities such as actors, directors, critics, or organizations like the American Film Institute. Well, how much more authoritative can you get than a movie buff with a “direct link” to the Man Upstairs?
Earlier this month, as part of a Vatican-sponsored “World of Cinema” celebration, Pope Leo XIV stepped into the debate. The Catholic Church’s first American-born leader selected four motion pictures that are his personal favorites. His quartet includes (in chronological order) Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life (1946); Robert Wise’s The Sound of Music (1965); Robert Redford’s Ordinary People (1980); and Roberto Benigni’s Life Is Beautiful (1997). Not suprisingly, The Pope Must Die(t)!, The Pope’s Exorcist, and Conclave didn’t make the Chicago-born pontiff’s cut.
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It’s a short list, but an effective one. Upon first glance one might think that Leo’s choices run towards the sentimental, if not outright treacly. Capra’s tale of small-town banker George Bailey (James Stewart) learning the value his existence had upon the lives of those around him has been spoofed many times over the years, but its dissection of a man’s dreams makes for a cathartic post-WWII Yuletide tale. Similarly, the fact-based story of the Von Trapp family and their escape from Austria during the country’s 1938 annexation by Germany is filled with heartwarming moments but also depicts the chilling rise of the Third Reich’s influence. Julie Andrews’ Oscar-nominated turn as Maria and the Rodgers/Hammerstein songs are the icing on the cake.
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The only Illinois-set picture of the foursome, Redford’s adaptation of the Judith Guest novel is anything but light entertaiment. Donald Sutherland, a cast-against-type Mary Tyler Moore, and Academy Award-winner Timothy Hutton shine as the seemingly model family struggling with loss, guilt, resentment, and the realization that we often construct our own purgatories to cope with what we can’t accept. And finding humor to cope with the direst of circumstances drives director/co-scripter/star Begnini’s tale. Sent with his young son to a concentration camp, a Jewish Italian bookstore owner devises games to entertain the boy and keep him from recognizing the horrors surrounding them.
It’s an eclectic and intriguing roster of films that Pope Leo offers. Each of the four have stories demontrating the strength of the human spirit against overwhelming odds, with themes that speak to the heart of Christian thought. I cannot say that I agree 100% with his picks (what, no Casablanca?). But then, that’s where the fun of debating such lists begins.
What do you think of Pope Leo’s favorite film selections? What four movies would top your list? Share you thoughts with us in the comments.