Pope Joan

Original title: Die Päpstin

2009
2h 29m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

9.2K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:40

1 Video

15 Photos

Drama History Romance

A woman of English extraction born in the German city of Ingelheim in the ninth century disguises herself as a man and rises through the Vatican ranks.A woman of English extraction born in the German city of Ingelheim in the ninth century disguises herself as a man and rises through the Vatican ranks.A woman of English extraction born in the German city of Ingelheim in the ninth century disguises herself as a man and rises through the Vatican ranks.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

9.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 6 wins & 6 nominations total

Trivia
The film is based on the popular story of the 'female Pope' that has become widespread since the Middle Ages and thereafter. Pope Joan has been mentioned in works that were released several centuries after her supposed reign. Most modern scholars have dismissed the stories as fictional, due to lack of contemporary documentation, and the debunking of indirect evidence. Many theories abound that the lack of evidence is the result of successful attempts by the Catholic Church to erase Joan's existence from history. The matter therefore remains controversial.

Quotes
Johanna von Ingelheim: As for strength of will, women can be viewed as superior to man. Eve ate from the apple out of love of knowledge and learning. Adam ate it only because Eve asked him to.

Connections
Featured in De wereld draait door: Episode #5.139 (2010)

User reviews23

Review

Featured review

10/10

Best historical movie of they year?

It is for sure one of the best movies about ancient history and educated women that I seen so far, what makes this unique is that Joan strives to excel in religion and science.

She comes from a traditional middle-ages background where women are uneducated so she has to learn how to look and act like a man to be able to follow her passion, this creates a constant struggle to hide her true gender.

Her intelligent and strength in human character shines through the canvas and what she manages to accomplish in her lifetime was phenomenal!