Martin Scorsese to produce documentary made with Pope Francis
Aldeas – A New Story will feature conversations between the Pope and Scorsese, including what the filmmakers say is the Pope's final in-depth on-camera interview for a film. The documentary will detail the work of Scholas Occurrentes, a non-profit, international organisation founded by the Pope in 2013 to promote the 'Culture of Encounter' among youth.
Part of that organisation's work has included filmmaking under the Aldeas initiative. The documentary will show young people in Indonesia, Italy and the Gambia participating in Aldeas and making short films.
Aldeas Scholas Film and Scorsese's Sikelia Productions, which announced the documentary overnight, said the film was 'a testament to the enduring belief that creativity is not only a means of expression but a path to hope and transformation.'
Before his death, Francis called Aldeas 'an extremely poetic and very constructive project because it goes to the roots of what human life is, human sociability, human conflicts ... the essence of a life's journey.'
No release date was announced for the film.
Scorsese won the Palme d'Or at Cannes with Taxi Driver in 1976 and went on to produce many highly acclaimed films, including Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Departed and, most recently, Killers of the Flower Moon.
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