FILM

Italy/France 2011 104 mins Subtitles Dir: Nanni Moretti Starring: Michel Piccoli, Jerzy Stuhr, Nanni Moretti

For years, Nanni Moretti has been referred to as "the Italian Woody Allen" with precious little evidence to support this contention, unless Allen's boring Bergman period is being invoked. The solipsistic likes of 'Dear Diary' and 'Aprile' had little appeal beyond the beard-stroking demographic. But here at last is a comedy worthy of the comparison, though it's rather odd that he should lurch from deep introspection to such a lightweight farce that starts out as 'The Pope's Speech', shifts into a Papal 'After Hours' and then loses its grip entirely.

The promising set-up has crusty cardinals gathering in conclave to elect a new Pope, each candidate privately praying "Not me, Lord, not me!" When compromise choice Melville (Piccoli) is revealed, the shocked old boy suffers a breakdown and refuses to address the waiting faithful. A doctor pronounces him well, so the potty Pontiff's spokesman (Stuhr) reluctantly summons an atheist psychoanalyst (Moretti). After he fails to make any headway under strict theological restrictions, the new Pope scarpers and the Vatican is placed on lockdown.

Piccoli gives a charming performance as the Pope who fears he's not up to the job and explores what his life might have been like if he'd pursued early thespian ambitions. But the third act stumbles badly as the shrink trapped inside the Vatican resorts to teaching the old geezers how to play volleyball. There's no mention of kiddy-fiddling or any of the other scandals afflicting the Catholic Church because Moretti says this isn't the film he wanted to make. That's fair enough, but his satire is so toothless that, given the Church's troubles, it's hard to imagine any hackles being raised at the depiction of cardinals as lovable, bumbling buffers in silly costumes. (Robin Askew)

Website www.habemuspapam.it/

Opens: December 2

Copyright Robin Askew 2011