Pope Joan Johanna Wokalek 2009
Pope Joan Johanna Wokalek 2009 (also released under its German title, Die Päpstin) recounts the medieval legend of Johanna von Ingleheim, a woman who disguised herself as a man, lived as a monk, and eventually went on to become pope in the ninth century.
The Story
Christmas Day 814. A narrator tells us that it is the last day of Charlemagne’s life and the first day of Joan’s. Born in Germany to a Pagan mother, played by German actress, Jördis Triebel, and English priest, played by none other than Game of Throne‘s Ser Jorah Mormont, Iain Glen, Joan and her two older brothers live a horrible life of abuse under their zealous father. He terrorises the children and his wife, and does everything in his power to ensure Joan doesn’t learn, because a woman learning is considered blasphemy and “unnatural”.
Exceptional Brilliance
Joan is a curious child and rebels against her father’s constraints by watching her brothers take Latin lessons and memorising them. She asks her eldest brother, Matthew, played by Sandro Lohmann, to teach her in secret. He is afraid of incurring their father’s wrath but relents when he sees Joan has a natural ability with languages. Joan quickly picks up Latin, and is much better at it than her brothers; especially poor Joahnnes, played by William Stütz, who struggles to read. Their father wants to send Matthew to the schola to become a priest but he falls sick and dies, leaving Johannes, who is completely inept with Latin, with this burden. Meanwhile, poor Joan, who would love to be afforded the same opportunities as her brothers, must learn in secret and avoid being discovered.
Lotte Flack portraying young Joan in Pope Joan.
Latin and Greek Lessons
When a teacher comes from the schola to test Johannes, it’s clear he is not fit for schooling. Joan sees her opportunity and pounces on it, risking her father’s anger by coming forward. She stuns the teacher with her remarkable ability to read and understand scripture. Aesculapius, played by theatre heavy-weight, Edward Petherbridge, sees that Joan has a gift and is unwilling to waste it, even if she is a girl. He teaches Joan Latin and Greek and forges a close fatherly relationship with her, an escape from the horrific treatment she endures from her paternal father.
Joan’s Escape and her Protector
When a messenger is sent to retrieve Joan for the schola, her father pretends there is a mistake in the spelling of their names, and sends Johannes in her place. Joan escapes in the night and joins her brother on the road where they both end up attending the schola, where she excels in her studies.
While there, she is taken in by Count Gerold, played by David Wenham. Wenham plays the role of Joan’s protector and, later, lover. After a gruesome Viking attack, while Gerold is away, leaving his family and Johannes dead, Joan travels to the monastery of Fulda, where her brother was to take his place as a monk. She presents herself as Johannes Anglicus (although she is German, her father was an English priest) and happily makes a life there earning the respect and reverence of the brothers.
Joan as a monk in Fulda Monastery.
Joan’s Karma Returns
Unfortunately, her happiness is short lived. She falls ill and is forced to flee Fulda or be discovered as a woman. She is rescued by Arn, and his wife. Years earlier, Joan saved Arn’s mother from being branded a leper and saved his entire family. Arn repays Joan by helping her recover before she heads off to Rome.
Joan arrives in Rome and heals the ailing Pope Bergius II of gout. The Pope is played by John Goodman (Yes, Dan from Roseanne!). This doesn’t sit well with the Pope’s ambitious and grasping Nomenclator, Anastasius Bibliothecarus. Nomenclator is played by Swiss actor, Anatole Taubman (The Pillars of the Earth, Quantum of Solace).
Dreams Fulfilled and Failed
In spite of his scheming, Joan quickly becomes Sergius’s trusted advisor and medicus. Once again, happy to be living her life as a man, a wrench is thrown in her plans. Gerold shows up at the Head of Lothair’s army. Lothair I (795-855), son of Louis the Pious (778-840), marched on Rome with his army. With Joan’s aid, Sergius placates Lothair but Gerold recognises Joan and they resume their affair. Just as Joan is about to leave with Gerold and become his wife, Sergius II dies. Then Joan is voted in as Pope with tragic consequences.
John Goodman as Pope Sergius II in Pope Joan.
~Sandra Alvarez
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