The Pope’s Toilet
El Baño del Papa
El Baño del Papa
Like many other men in the village, Beto scrapes a living smuggling goods from Brazil on the back of his groaning bicycle. And like everyone else, he catches the scent of business opportunities afforded by the thousands of pilgrims expected to travel to see Pope John Paul. Beto’s plan: to build a lavatory in which the visitors can relieve themselves at a small price. "The wide, unforgiving skies of Uruguay’s rural badlands are handsomely photographed and the fever of optimistic speculation by people who have nothing but debts to their names is heartbreakingly matter-of-fact." Wendy Ide in The Times "A harsh admonishment of organised religion is wrapped up in one of the sweetest films you’re likely to see this year..." David Jenkins in Time Out "This is a heartfelt and deadpan portrait of the knife-edge poverty of people who are not so much greedy as desperate." Cath Clarke in The Guardian |