The Pope's Toilet
Encyclopedia
The Pope's Toilet is a 2007
Uruguayan film
directed
by César Charlone
and Enrique Fernandez
, starring César Troncoso, Virginia Méndez, Mario Silva and Virginia Ruiz.
, a Uruguay
an town on the Brazilian border, awaits the visit of Pope John Paul II. Numbers begin circulating: hundreds of people will come, no thousands say the media. To the poor citizens of Melo this means pilgrims in need of food and drink, paper flags, souvenirs, and commemorative medals. Brimming with enthusiasm, the locals hope not only for divine blessing but also a small share of material happiness. Petty smuggler Beto is certain that he’s found the best business idea of all: “The Pope’s Toilet”, where the thousands of pilgrims can find relief.
Beto is thwarted by lack of funds and the local mobile customs enforcement officer. Ultimately the promised "60,000 to 200,000" Brazilians do not materialise. Apparently (in the film's postscript) only 400 Brazilians came, disproportionately served by 387 stalls for food and trinkets. The film makes it clear that the visit was a financial disaster to the town rather than bringing any wealth as promised. Beto has spent his daughter's college fund to no avail, but she forgives him, and at least he has a nice toilet.
for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
, but was not accepted as a nominee. It is available in the United States from filmmovement.com
.
BBC Four premiered the film on British television on 1st August 2010.
2007 in film
This is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007...
Uruguayan film
Cinema of Uruguay
The Cinema of Uruguay has a role in the Culture of Uruguay. The industry has many actors and directors that made the Uruguayan cinema a part of Latin American cinema.-The early days:...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by César Charlone
César Charlone (cinematographer)
César Charlone is an Uruguayan-born Brazilian film director, screenwriter, actor and cinematographer. He was born in Montevideo, but settled in Brazil, his current homeland. In 2003, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on the highly acclaimed film City of God...
and Enrique Fernandez
Enrique Fernández
Enrique Fernández may refer to:* Enrique Fernández , Uruguayan filmmaker, see 2007 Toronto International Film Festival* Enrique Fernández , basketball player* Enrique Fernández Viola, former Uruguayan footballer and manager...
, starring César Troncoso, Virginia Méndez, Mario Silva and Virginia Ruiz.
Plot
It is 1988, and MeloMelo
Melo is the capital city of the Cerro Largo Department of north-eastern Uruguay. It is located at the centre of the department, on the intersection of Route 7 with Route 8, south of Aceguá and the border with Brazil. Other primary roads to the city are Route 26 and Route 44. The stream Arroyo...
, a Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an town on the Brazilian border, awaits the visit of Pope John Paul II. Numbers begin circulating: hundreds of people will come, no thousands say the media. To the poor citizens of Melo this means pilgrims in need of food and drink, paper flags, souvenirs, and commemorative medals. Brimming with enthusiasm, the locals hope not only for divine blessing but also a small share of material happiness. Petty smuggler Beto is certain that he’s found the best business idea of all: “The Pope’s Toilet”, where the thousands of pilgrims can find relief.
Beto is thwarted by lack of funds and the local mobile customs enforcement officer. Ultimately the promised "60,000 to 200,000" Brazilians do not materialise. Apparently (in the film's postscript) only 400 Brazilians came, disproportionately served by 387 stalls for food and trinkets. The film makes it clear that the visit was a financial disaster to the town rather than bringing any wealth as promised. Beto has spent his daughter's college fund to no avail, but she forgives him, and at least he has a nice toilet.
Release
The film was Uruguay's submission to the 80th Academy Awards80th Academy Awards
The 80th Academy Awards ceremony honored the best films in 2007 and was broadcast from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California on ABC beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST/8:30 p.m. EST, February 24, 2008 . During the ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Academy Awards in 24...
for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
, but was not accepted as a nominee. It is available in the United States from filmmovement.com
Filmmovement.com
filmmovement.com is an American film and DVD distribution company. It is located in New York City and was founded in 2003. The company specializes in foreign films and award-winning films, such as Munyurangabo, The Drummer and Somers Town....
.
BBC Four premiered the film on British television on 1st August 2010.
See also
- Cinema of UruguayCinema of UruguayThe Cinema of Uruguay has a role in the Culture of Uruguay. The industry has many actors and directors that made the Uruguayan cinema a part of Latin American cinema.-The early days:...
- List of submissions to the 80th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film