Data sheet
Gender:
Documentary
Duration:
80 minutes
Age:
+7 One
History:
Friday, March 17, 2023
Manager:
Gianfranco Rosi
Company:
KARMA MOVIES, SL
summary:
Pope Francis undertook 37 journeys across 53 nations during his first nine years as a global leader, focusing his travel program on essential issues such as poverty alleviation, migration, environmental stewardship, solidarity, and the pursuit of peace amid conflict. The documentary team noticed a striking overlap: two of these papal itineraries echoed the routes later depicted in the films Fire at Sea and Night on Earth, prompting director Gianfranco Rosi to map out a special cinematic response. The resulting Via project becomes a living bridge that follows the pope’s footsteps, hears his words, and stitches together a conversation spanning archival footage from his travels, Rosi’s own filmmaking perspective, and contemporary imagery from today’s world. The approach invites audiences to observe what Francis encountered, to listen to his messages, and to engage with a broader dialogue about global events, humanitarian needs, and the moral questions that arise when people are displaced, endangered, or left behind. The production aims to illuminate the connections between past journeys and current realities while preserving the contemplative pace and human-centric focus that characterize Rosi’s work and the enduring significance of Francis’s advocacy for dignity and care across borders.