Michael AndersonThe Shoes of the Fisherman

The 1968 film SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN gives us a privilaged view of the inner workings of the Vaticana as direct result of the death of one Pope and the election of another. The main character is Kiril Lakota, a Ukranian Eastern Rite Catholic bishop serving a 20 year sentence in a Soviet work camp in Siberia. We're never told why he is there. The Chairman of the U.S.S.R.,Pitor Ilyich Kamenev, played by Sir Lawrence Olivier, brokers a deal with the Vatican to set Lakota free and return him to the West, all with very little public fanfare. In fact, the predictably crayola-dull David Jansen character of George Faber, an American reporter working for the BBC in Rome, is offered the story as an exclusive. Faber's character latter annoys us to no end with his petty affair with a English speaking presumably Italian teenie type tart, as opposed to his genuinely attractive, yet cold and distant doctor wife. A troubled marraige that certainly seems salvagable, but who would want to live life with such a drag as Jansen? Anyhow, no sooner is Bishop Lakota released than he is promoted to Cardinal by Sir John Gielgood's Pope Pius XIII, than the Holy Father dies. For the non-Catholic fans in the audience, Pius XIII seems very plausible, since he would have been the successopr to Pius XII, the Church's last reasonably conservative pope. This, of course, is fiction. After the shortand some say suspicious demise of John Paul I, we got a very different pontiff, John Paul II. We also have in the story , the personage of, likely the real-life priest Teilhard de Chardin, in the movie role of Fr. David Telremond, played by Oscar Werner. This young priest is a brilliant theologian and an amateur paleantologist, and has written several books, all unpublished, concerning the dilemma of a "cosmic Christ." This is a questuion which the Werner's character struggles with to the point of great torment, eventually he dies due to a cerebral tumor and hemmorage. Perhaps his very real medical crisis has influenced his theology? During a coffee break for the sequestered Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel papal election process, Lakota is asked about his life in prison camp, and though these are innocent questions from well-meaning cardinals, he relates that sometimes extreme measures are necessary to defend life and liberties, a theme that was close to the heart of the author Morris West. To the shock of his brother cardinals, he admits he stole bread and fed it to a prisoner who had been beated by a gaurd, and on another occassion, he fought a brutal guard and nearly killed him to defend another man. The stoic Cardinal Rinaldi, played by Vitorrio de Sica, and looking every bit like a REAL prince of the Church, is deeply moved by this confession, and upon the resumption of the afternoon election session, rises to proclaim Lakota as "being touched by the hand of God." He pleges his loyalty and obedience to him as the next pope. Soon another cardinal follows suit, and another until a majority is evident. Lakota nearly panics and only after looking deeply within himself, doe he accept election. The immediate and unselfish display of love, brotherhiood and allegiance shown by the group of cardinals is proof of the Church's wonderful gift of speaking with one voice to themselves, and now, more than ever in history, must speak also to the world. Pope Lakota I must now confront that crisis which he became privy to the day of his release from Soviet internment. The Communist Chinese military is threatening to invade Soviet territory rich in rice , minerals and other necessities because of the extreme hardships of the Chinese peple and the waves of famine decimating their country. The U.S.S.R. thinks the relaes of Lakota could help temper the situation, but they never contemplated a UKRANIAN POPE!!! Now what? Lakota I agrees to meet with the beligerant parties and after tense negotiations, returns to the Vatican to announce his decision to his circle of theological advisors. Nearly all are opposed, if not at least severely skeptical. Only Cardinal Leone, Leo McKern, supports him unequivically. He says to Lakota, "tu est Petrus." You are Peter. Enough said. Earlier, Leone came to the Holy Father to confess his sin of jelousy, aimed at the young Fr. Telremond, now deceased, because, as Leone says, "I though I deserved your attention and affection, because I am old." Initially, the pope shuns his request for absolution, but Leone reminds the pontiff, with the greatest respect, that "you ARE a priest, and I am a soul in distress." How true. The finale of the film is the announcement, on the day of his coronation, that the Church will give all her wealth, her art treasuers, her lands, her money for the releif of the starving masses in China, as well as any others in such need. He proclaims this from the balcony of the Vatican and beseaches the weathy nations of the world to follow suit. At first, the crowd is near silent, then slowly, the cheers begin to rise. Idealist? yes, maybe. Impossible? not really. As a Catholic, I can tell you that while St thomas Aquinas and St Dominic were two of our greatest, so were Sts. Benedict and Francis and, especially my guy, St Anthony of Padua, born filthy-rich and abandonned it for the calling of penitence and poverty and prayer. And, still the Church survived. This is a very fine film for me personally, in light of my understanding of the post-vatican II Catholic Faith, an understanding which I continue to learn about and which I find vitaly necessary as an insight into this movies's plot and characters. Highly recommeded to all faiths. God Bless You.

Good price for such a old movie

This film was and continues to be an inspiration for me. Too many will see that as a 'Christian' statement, but that would be overly simplistic and flat-out wrong.Inspirational because the journey we take with Anthony Quinn's character, Kiril Lakota, is one of selfless devotion and unwanted authority. A man who, like his predecessor two-thousand years previous, took on the responsibility of maintaining the church despite his own fears and acknowledged inadequacies; a simple fisherman who reluctantly carried on the message of his teacher.This is a powerful and deeply felt film about sacrifice, both personal and spiritual, that gives everyone a chance to see Christ's message through a clear and humbling story *without* the typically blatant evangelistic proselytizing so typical in productions coming from that part of the industry.'Fisherman' tells the story of an imprisoned Catholic cleric, a man who has spent over twenty years in the Soviet Gulag prison system. Two decades suffering in Siberia, suddenly thrust back into the modern world because of a bizarre kinship he shared with an ambitious internal security officer who, over those same years, rose to become the Chairman of the Soviet Union and absolute authority of 1/3 of the planet.Pyotr Illyich Kamenev, played by Laurence Olivier, leader of the USSR, reaches into his past and tells the priest that he's going to be freed, for whatever that's worth. It's a gift that Kiril is understandably suspicious of, more than just the reason for his release, but from whom it is delivered. Why? Because Kamenev knows something that the priest does not: Within a short time it's likely that most of the world will be engulfed in nuclear fire. For Kamenev - a final act of mercy before Armaggedon.I would be remiss not to mention the wonderful presence of one of my all-time favorite actors, Clive Revill, who, along with Olivier's character, stand in for the number-crunching atheists of our times. And what can you say about the utterly fantastic Leo McKern, as Cardinal Leoné, that hasn't already been said a thousand times before and by better reviewers than myself.Then there's the sidestory, which some cinephiles find distracting: David Janssen's news anchor who flirts with marital disaster while chronicling the events that surround Pope Kiril and the impending nuclear war between China and the other world powers. While some find it pointless - I actually enjoyed Janssen's character and storyline. Particularly when the estranged wife and his Holiness unexpectedly meet in the rough-n-tumble streets of Rome itself. There's a touch of my mustachioed hero, Mark Twain, in that scene that perfectly imparts both humor and poignancy into the film when it's needed.To each his own I suppose.Perhaps the most important moment, save for the film's final act, and the one that in my view best illustrates 'sacrifice' - comes when his Holiness is confronted by Cardinal Leoné. The scene reveals the price he paid accepting ascension to the Holy See. He would suffer greatly as Pope; that his was the loneliest path a man could walk, and that his suffering had only begun. Calvary indeed.An incredible and timeless film that I recommend to anyone who wants to experience gut-wrenching sacrifice for the betterment of others, regardless of what you believe.Film Note: What amazes me, and many historians, is the uncanny prescience author Morris West achieved by predating the rise and election of Pope John Paul II; considered by many, including myself, as one of the preeminent spiritual leaders of the last century. A man whose life and times nearly mirror that of the fictional Kiril Lakota, former Metropolitan Archbishop of Lviv, Ukraine.

I would recommend this movie. Very very good. But what I don't understand is why the 1st part of the movie was deleted..was about 10 minutes and was suppose to be in the barracks when Anthony Quinn was taking care of a dying old man feeding him fish soup. What happened to that part?

merci

Un superbe film avec une légende du cinéma .Quinn un acteur comme ont en fais plus .je n avais jamais entendu parlé de se film .je me suis régalé

I've only seen this on TV. The last time was in 90s. I didn't know the film was widescreen. Fantastic film. Came very early and in great shape.

J'ai déjà eu ce film sur cassette vhs. Je voulais l'avoir sur dvd.J'aime beaucoup l'histoire et les acteurs