This heroic story follows the life of Karol Wojtyla, a Polish Roman catholic who ascends the throne of St. Peter as Pope John Paul II. As a young boy, Karol is a bright and talented student. Archbishop Sapieha recognizes the very special, moving qualities Karol possesses and encourages him to consider the priesthood. Although determined to study Polish literature, Karol turns to the church; he is ordained and studies in Italy, France, and Belgium. Torn by fear and repression in post-Stalin Eastern Europe, Karol becomes a poisonous thorn in the communists' side. His deer reverence and commitment return him to Poland as Pope John Paul II.
Cast
Sam Neill
Marian
Christopher Cazenove
Tadek Sobański
Lisa Harrow
Wanda
John Welsh
Priest
Maurice Denham
Sapieha
Cezary Morawski
Karol Wojtyła
Daniel Olbrychski
Captain
Maja Komorowska
Nun
Izabela Olszewska
Unknown
Andrzej Łapicki
German Officer
Zbigniew Zapasiewicz
Mieczysław Kotlarczyk
Piotr Fronczewski
Palitsch
Maciej Robakiewicz
Unknown
Tadeusz Bradecki
Unknown
Marek Kondrat
Policeman
Jerzy Stuhr
Engineer
Jerzy Zelnik
Unknown
Jerzy Nowak
Professor
Liliana Komorowska
Nun
Anna Milewska
Unknown
Janusz Gajos
Unknown
Andrzej Hudziak
Unknown
Warren Clarke
Władek
Jonathan Blake
Jozef
Kathleen Byron
Tadek's Mother
John Franklyn-Robbins
Curate
Carol Gillies
Wladek's Wife
Philip Latham
Chaplain
Emma Relph
Magda
Susan Dutton
Activist
Rupert Frazer
1st Security Officer
Michael Jayston
Narrator (voice)
Georgine Anderson
Woman
Kazimierz Borowiec
Wladek's Father (Christ in the Passion)
Simon Dutton
Assistant
Anne Dyson
Wladek's Mother
Kazimierz Kursa
Father Kolbe
Edward Linde-Lubaszenko
Priest from Warsaw
Matthew Long
Official
Martin Milman
Unknown
Timothy Morand
Operator
Geoffrey Russell
Curate
Andrew Seear
Stefan
Philip Trewinnard
Investigating Official
Andrzej Żarnecki
Karol Wojtyla's Father
Małgorzata Zajączkowska
Nun (uncredited)
Crew
Krzysztof Zanussi
Director, Writer
Andrzej Kijowski
Writer
Jan Józef Szczepański
Writer
Vincenzo Labella
Writer, Producer
Diego Fabbri
Story
Waldemar Król
Editor
Antony Gibbs
Editor
Paolo Fabbri
Editor
Slawomir Idziak
Director of Photography
Giacomo Pezzali
Producer
Janusz Sosnowski
Production Design
Irene Lamb
Casting
Anna B. Sheppard
Costume Design
Wojciech Kilar
Music
