El Baño del Papa (The Pope's Toilet) (2007)

88% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(4,188 ratings)

Uruguayan directors César Chalone and Enrique Fernández co-helm the nutty Spanish-language farce El Baño del Papa (The Pope's Toilet). The film unfolds in 1988, during Pope John Paul II's visit to Uruguay. While dozens of economically struggling locals devise plans to turn a buck from the… More Uruguayan directors César Chalone and Enrique Fernández co-helm the nutty Spanish-language farce El Baño del Papa (The Pope's Toilet). The film unfolds in 1988, during Pope John Paul II's visit to Uruguay. While dozens of economically struggling locals devise plans to turn a buck from the arrival of the papal father -- such as baking cakes and wrapping chorizo sausages -- only one concocts a scheme to earn a fortune from defecation. Beto, a nickel-and-dime smuggler, reasons that all of those cakes and sausages will be digested rather quickly and that over 50,000 locals will soon be clamoring to use the porcelain bowl. Of course, toilets abound in South America, but Beto sets his public toilet apart by crowning it with an aura of prestige -- his will be the only Pope's Toilet in all of Uruguay, and residents, he is certain, will soon be clamoring to use it. Unfortunately, before he can set his scheme in motion, Beto must first locate the most appropriate toilet and make several risky trips across the Brazilian border and back to that end. Then, just as Beto is within arm's reach of success, someone thoughtlessly steals his beloved bicycle -- further hampering his mission. Regardless of the complications at hand, however, Beto's determination persists. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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Directed By: César Charlone, Enrique Fernández
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: May 21, 2007 Wide
Studio: Cinemien

Critic Reviews

V.A. Musetto, New York Post
The cast of pros and amateurs provides realistic performances, and co-director Charlone's lensing makes beautiful use of the rough landscape in a movie even the pope would enjoy.
David Fear, Time Out New York
Watch it now, and you'll be surprised how such a little movie can cut so deeply to the bone.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
The Pope's Toilet cloaks religious critique in the scrappy tempo of irremediable poverty and irrepressible enterprise.
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice
The Pope's Toilet entertains, even while it illustrates how the impoverished can adjust their religious ideals out of desperation.
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
The movie isn't as bad as I feared, but I can't give it much of an endorsement, either.
Robert Koehler, Variety
The Pope's Toilet excels most in its expression of a particular time and place, which Charlone films with the kind of physical intensity and realism associated with recent Argentine cinema.
S. James Wegg, JWR
The storytelling is a marvel of visual narrative technique.
Matthew Nestel, Boxoffice Magazine
Despite the sensationalism of Holy Father's arrival, the subtext here is that there's a speck on the map whose poor are treated as well as a backed-up john.
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
A celebration of hope, humor and resilience among the humble and only secondarily a dig at media distortion and the disconnect between the Church and the poor.
Fr. Chris Carpenter, Movie Dearest
Simultaneously charming and hard-hitting
Frank Ochieng, Movie Eye
Although not the best imaginative movie title ever to grace a matinee sign, The Pope's Toilet resonates with a distinctive warmth and sense of reality and purpose.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Not as funny as the title would suggest.
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
This bittersweet parable has loads of charm but several graver issues are also raised.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Charming and hilariously offbeat.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
It's charming in a proper way, entirely avoiding sentiment and can be counted one of the best films in town.
Nigel Andrews, Financial Times
Lots of bruised humour, quiet virtuosity - watch for the slow-motion montage of disaster - and doggy-eyed optimism.
Tom Dawson, Total Film
El Baño Del Papa (which translates as The Pope's Toilet) is an engaging and humane affair, never losing sight of its characters' material hardships.
Rob Daniel, Sky Movies
Worth spending a penny on, but not much more.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

In "The Pope's Toilet," to make ends meet, Beto(Cesar Troncoso) smuggles goods across the Brazilian border by bicycle where on one trip his pal and fellow smuggler Valvulina(Mario Silva) is unlucky to have his goods confiscated by their nemesis, Meleyo(Nelson Lence).… More
In "The Pope's Toilet," to make ends meet, Beto(Cesar Troncoso) smuggles goods across the Brazilian border by bicycle where on one trip his pal and fellow smuggler Valvulina(Mario Silva) is unlucky to have his goods confiscated by their nemesis, Meleyo(Nelson Lence). Anyway, Beto is not getting any younger and would like his teenaged daughter Silvia(Virginia Ruiz), a wannabe journalism student, to join in the family business but his wife Carmen(Virginia Mendez) violently disagrees. This is all towards buying a motorbike which would make his job that much easier, especially with his knee acting up. His bad knee also forces him to take the low road on a run which leads to an unfortunate run-in with customs. But the Pope is coming to visit and Beto has a plan... Inspired by a real story, "The Pope's Toilet" is a heartfelt movie about a poor community that is hampered by the arbitrary nature of borders and authority that preys on the weak. So, you can understand that they see a huge opportunity when the Pope comes to visit. For the faithful, this means spiritual but most see it as a chance to make money to at least temporarily lift them out of poverty. And some wonder if it is right to make money off the Pope's visit. But, then, they do not have any choice, do they? And what's more important, anyway?
Jojo S

This movie is a GEM! The story is filmed based on a true event that happened in 1988 when the Pope visited Melo, Uruguay. It's beautiful, sad, inspiring, truthful, funny and angry. Superb music! EXCELLENT acting! A must watch!

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Cast

César Troncoso
as Beto
Virginia Méndez
as Carmen
Mario Silva
as Valvulina
José Arce
as Tica
Virginia Ruíz
as Silvia
Henry De Leon
as Nacente
Rodrigo dos Santos
as Teresa
Nelson Lence
as Meleyo
Alex Silva
as Luna
Baltasar Burgos
as Ã?lvarez Captain, Álvarez Captain, lvar...
Carlos Lerena
as Soldier
Aníbal Santos Núñez
as Cyclist
Marcelo Ornes
as Cyclist
Wally Abreo
as Wally
Paula Larruina
as Child In Shop
Carlos Lissardy
as Ches The Madman
Hugo Blandamuro
as Barman "Stuttermouth"
William Aceredo
as Burgler
Emilio Pica
as IMCL Official
Lindolfo Aeske
as Shopkeeper
Cynthia Sylveira
as Silvia's Friend
Pablo Solano
as Journalist
Rosana Villa
as Neighbour 1
Yolanda Mederos
as Neighbour 2
Brandon Antuña
as Boy With Stone
Jessica Tiscornia
as Mother With Baby
Rolando Izquierdo
as Workman
Carlos Andrade
as Butcher
Andrea Álvarezs
as Wife
Jorge Manzilla
as Turco
Julia Romero Stoppiello
as magazine lady
Angélica Silvera
as Maria
Marlene Vilela
as Doctor
Diego De Silva
as Vendor
Tonatan Da Silva
as Student
Marcos Mier
as student
Walter Ferreira
as student
Jorge Almeida
as student
Romulo Ortiz
as student
Raul Olivera
as student
Víctor Pérez
as student
Mirta Machado
as student

See more (42)

El Baño del Papa (The Pope's Toilet) (2007)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

Jojo S

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