Paolo Sorrentino's 'The Young Pope' Premieres at Venice Film Festival

At the 73rd Venice International Film Festival, Paolo Sorrentino presented the first two episodes of his television series 'The Young Pope'. The director described the project as a ten-hour film, emphasizing the effort invested in writing. The series stars Jude Law as Lenny Belardo, who becomes Pope Pius XIII at age 47. His election was orchestrated by Cardinal Voiello (Silvio Orlando), but the young pontiff proves unpredictable, appointing Sister Mary (Diane Keaton) as his advisor. The premiere introduced the character and surreal Vatican setting without resolving ambiguities, such as whether Belardo believes in God. Sorrentino's signature aesthetic—luminous cinematography and visual opulence—serves the narrative, balancing his previous tendency toward excessive stylization. The opening scene features a dream sequence with controversial imagery: a baby crossing infant bodies, the pope emerging from lagoon waters into St. Mark's Square, and a speech advocating for female priests, contraception, abortion, divorce, and free sex. Belardo is shown naked, wearing white Havaianas, listening to a Tivoli radio, and chain-smoking—a choice Sorrentino attributed to Pope Benedict XVI's smoking habit. The pope adopts a rockstar marketing strategy, refusing traditional merchandise and delivering his first homily in silhouette. The series was shot by Gianni Fiorito.