French director Bertrand Bonello is coming off his critically acclaimed “The Beast,” which was unlike any film he’d made before, mixing period-era romanticism, sci-fi and Lynchian depravity.
Here’s Variety reporting Bonello has started production on “Santo Subito!” in Rome, which will draw inspiration from the legacy of Pope John Paul II, particularly the passionate cries of “Santo Subito!” that echoed after his death in 2005, urging his immediate canonization.
Mark Ruffalo portrays Father Joseph Murolo, an American priest called to the Vatican to take on the role of “devil’s advocate” during the inquiry into Pope John Paul II’s life and his possible canonization.
Charlotte Rampling is set to portray Polish-born American philosopher Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka, who shared a deep intellectual bond with the Polish pope and exchanged personal letters with him over many years.
Additional cast members have also been announced: Poland’s Andrzej Chyra (“Leave No Traces”) will portray Pope John Paul II; Cezary Żak will play Stanisław Dziwisz, the pontiff’s longtime personal secretary and trusted aide; Marisa Borini appears as Sofia Murolo, Joseph’s mother; France’s Adam Bessa (“Harka”) takes on the role of Ali Agça, the man who attempted to assassinate the Pope; and Anton Lesser (“Wolf Hall”) will play Father Matthew, a close friend of Joseph.
Although “The Beast” is up there with his best works, I don’t believe Bonello’s made a better film than 2017’s “Nocturama,” a terrorist thriller that felt like a brilliant hybrid of Bresson’s “The Devil Probably” and Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead.” Ironically, both “The Beast” and “Nocturama” were rejected by Cannes.
Bonello’s other films include “House of Pleasures,” “Saint Laurent,” and “Zombi Child.” He uses a bold, sensual, and often provocative approach to storytelling, blending lush visuals with characters that almost always live on the fringes of society.