SAVING GRACE
UK, 1986, 112 minutes, Colour.
Tom Conti, Fernando Rey, Erland Josephson, Giancarlo Giannini, Donald Hewlett, Edward James Olmos, Massimo Serato.
Directed by Robert M. Young.
Saving Grace is a very engaging film about the papacy. Tom Conti portrays the newly-elected Pope Leo XIV, uncomfortable with the styles and the formalities of the Vatican. He does gardening in the afternoon – and when a paper blows over the wall, he goes out of the Vatican gardens to get it, finds himself locked out, decides that he doesn’t want to go back and takes himself off to the south of Italy where, unknown, he lives in a village and helps them with manual labour. He exercises a priestly ministry in his support of the various people in the village, a great kindness, sympathy and support.
Tom Conti had proved himself a very capable actor in the 1970s with such films as Reuben, Reuben and the TV’s Glittering Prizes. He is well supported by a range of international character actors including Fernando Rey, Earland Josephson and Giancarlo Giannini.
The film was directed by Robert M. Young who had a varied career, sometimes specialist films like Short Eyes and Extremities, sometimes popular films like Dominic and Eugene.
One of the best films about what the meaning of the papacy should be.
1. A religious fable? The touches of realism? Touches of fantasy? Enjoyment, inspiration?
2. The Italian locations, the widescreen beauty, the harshness of the Italian countryside? The contrast between wealth and poverty? Vatican pomp? The use of newsreel footage, for the Vatican? The contrasts, authenticity? Special effects? The musical score and the range of moods?
3. Audience identification, the use of St Peter’s, the Vatican City? The intercutting of the Vatican story and the countryside story? Authentic detail?
4. The title, its tone, the role of grace, salvation? Salvation for Leo, for Monte Petra, for the Vatican, for the world?
5. The conclave and its style, the cardinals, the rituals of the conclave, the discussions, the choice of Leo? His hesitation? The cardinals’ opinion? The nature of the papacy, the expectations of the pope, his role, style, duties? Leo after one year, tired? The monsignori and the cardinals? The papal audiences? The audience and the soccer team – and his comment about international incident? The healing miracles? Isabella? The meeting, the ambassador and the threats? The range of advice? The stories showing the pressure on the pope? His feeling alone in the Vatican, too sheltered?
6. His gardening, the soccer and the security? The paper going over the wall, his going out, locked out? Chance or providence? His not having any money? Cards? The phone calls? The response of Stefano, the two monsignors? Decorum, advice, discussion amongst themselves, the meals? The coverage by the press? The cardinal’s intrusion? Escape?
7. Leo caught up with the guide, the soccer team, the fountain, the meal and paying for it, the beggar, sleeping out in the street, hitchhiking, the quarantine, suspicion, Isabella, Lucia? His settling down? The new life, the possibilities? Phone calls?
8. The shepherd and the watch? The hills? Discussions, God’s existence or not? The scepticism about the aqueduct? The interference, the rule? The fire? The kids, Da Vinci and the wheel? The talkover, fired? The priest? Mutual talk and help? In the piazza?
9. The effect of the town on Leo, the people? Working with them, living their life, compassion, rag-picking, the burning and rebuilding, Giuliano and the net? The hard life? The children? Giuliano? Help? The father, death, the funeral? Isabella as attractive, communicating? Lucia and the cleaning of the house, her story, the night and coping? The tough men and their fight? The fireworks? Resistance? Collaboration? The water and the effect?
10. The local issues, liberation, help, violence, overcoming the difficulties, leadership, role model? Leo as a Christ figure?
11. Lucia, her life, help, love? Isabella and her influence?
12. The tough men, the quarantine, rag-picking, the pretence? The boys, the bashing and the confrontation? Death?
13. Giuliano and his being tough, the children, cross, father, self-assertion? Saving them from the dynamite?
14. The effect on Leo as a man, as a priest, his belief in God, his humanity, in action, in being, in discovering himself? His effect on the other people?
15. His eventual return, the reaction of the cardinal, of the monsignors? Easter, celebration, his story?
16. The theme of building, the symbolism of water? The poverty themes? Religious leadership?
