"If the shoe fits..."

                  

When The Artist and I saw the movie ‘Conclave’ during its theatrical release in 2024, we knew it would be an Oscar contender. It was an amazing film to watch on the big screen, with a thought-provoking storyline, an excellent cast and stunning cinematography.

I loved the movie, and it resonated to another film I’ve cherished since I first saw it at The Star Theater in La Puente (CA) during its theatrical release in 1968. 

‘The Shoes of the Fisherman’, a geo-political thriller based in and around the Vatican, stars Anthony Quinn as Kiril Lakota, a Ukrainian Catholic Bishop and political prisoner, who is challenged with far-reaching questions of faith and humanity. 

Released from a Siberian gulag after 20 years of hard labor, he is tapped to become a Cardinal, then unexpectedly finds himself elected to be Pope after the sudden death of the previous pontiff, all while the world is on the brink of famine, global conflict and imminent nuclear war.

I was twelve years old when I sat in that theater, absorbing complex philosophical issues that were already percolating in my junior-high school brain. I went to see it two more times to make sure I understood the larger messages it presented. 

The film spoke directly to me... good films will do that. The Star Theater, a quasi-historic building, was demolished in 2019. So it goes.

The Star interior. The colorful Mardi Gras wall graphics were cool and kinda creepy.

In 1968, I’d just begun the journey of leaving my religious faith behind, inhaling library books about the world I lived in and wild science-fiction stories about a future I could only dream of. 

The process of de-coupling from Catholicism was fraught, and at first I struggled with the notion of becoming a non-believer. My struggle was very similar to a young priest in the film whom Kiril befriends, a writer accused of heresy by the church for highlighting the conflicts between traditional spiritual faith and modern reasoned skepticism. 

‘The Shoes of the Fisherman’ was recently scheduled for cable broadcast, along with several other biblical films like ‘The Ten Commandments’ and ‘The Robe’. The Artist recorded it and we watched it (appropriately enough) this past Easter Sunday morning. I whipsawed between the prescient themes it presented, the thematic similarities in ‘Conclave’ and its reflection to our current reality.

I haven’t stopped thinking about this film, especially given the state of play in the world today.

My youthful journey away from religious belief was bolstered by a 'religious' film that spoke to the dichotomy between faith and reason. It helped me to understand where my skepticism came from and why it mattered. 

Having the ability to follow a life path without religious faith is one of the benefits of free will. Living in that mode has filled me with joy, love, empathy, compassion and understanding for other people, especially those who choose a different path.

The messenger may change, but the message never does: remember your humanity, and forget the rest.

I’m grateful that Anthony Quinn embodied such an intelligent and thoughtful human as Kiril Lakota in ‘The Shoes of the Fisherman’. He gave me license to explore thoughts about my own existence, and act accordingly.

Be like Kiril.

5 Stars.

'Star' images, gracias de Google Images; 'Shoes of the Fisherman' and DEVO 'Gates of Steel' videos, muchisimas gracias de YouTube; DEVO was right all along!