24. Padre Pio; movie review

 

PADRE PIO

Cert 15

104 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language, violence, bloody images, nudity, child abuse references

Basic pre-movie reading enabled me to discover that the real-life Padre Pio was seen as such an inspiration to Italians that he was made a saint.

Therefore, I expected a movie in his name to be a thorough biopic of an important historical figure.

However, he cuts a peripheral figure in Abel Ferrara's film, which focuses on the societal divisions after troops arrive home to the village of San Giovanni Rotondo from the First World War.

To be fair, this is interesting. It shows how the bonds that fascists and socialists as they fought together are soon broken.

The relief of being back with their families is diluted by poverty and the iron rule of the wealthy landowners in league with the church.

Thus, the victorious men seek to turn over the balance of power at Italy's first free elections, and their gatherings become more determined and daring.

In return, the right-wingers refuse to give in to people they think are unworthy and even threaten to kill their opponents.

As the tension ratchets up, Padre Pio, played by Shia LaBeouf, arrives in a monastery nearby, espousing visions of Jesus, Mary and the devil.

He miraculously 'cures' a disabled man and gives a perverted mother a piece of his mind.

But why does he not become involved in the persecution of the poor by the wealthy nearby?

And why was LaBeouf selected for the role at all? This is an Italian story; the entire cast is homegrown, but the dialogue crosses over between their language and English to accommodate the American.

I have read that he eased the production's financial difficulties by working for nothing, and I can only presume that the makers thought the big name would help sell more tickets.

But his contribution only serves to jolt what could have been a seamless movie.

In my opinion, it is a picture that very effectively evokes post-war conflict, but LaBeouf's tangents detract rather than add to the narrative.

In other words, it is as if two unrelated stories are being told.

Reasons to watch: Evokes post-war conflict effectively

Reasons to avoid: Too many tangents

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 5.5/10

Did you know? Padre Pio was beatified in1999 and canonised in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. His relics are in the sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, next to the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo which is now a major pilgrimage site

The final word.  Shia LaBeouf: "The deeper I got into Pio, the more he gave me a very productive, instructive way of moving in the world, coming out of the "shame cage.'" National Catholic Register

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