Martin Scorsese, one of the cinema world’s most revered filmmakers, is directing his cameras at a spiritual leader who impressed the world with humility, wit, and love, Pope Francis. The storied director is making a new feature-length film called “Aldeas — A New Story,” which will feature the Pope’s last in-depth on-camera interview, taken shortly before he died.
The documentary is a collaboration with Scholas Occurrentes, the educational movement founded by Pope Francis himself. But it’s more than a portrait of the man, it’s a vision of how education, community, and cinema can intersect to inspire future generations.
The Seeds of “Aldeas”
At the core of the movie is “Aldeas,” a cinema-based project created by Scholas Occurrentes. The project calls on youth from all over the world to produce short films that represent their culture, values, and life stories. It’s grassroots filmmaking with an ulterior motive: to build identity, community, and dialogue beyond borders.
Countries like Indonesia, The Gambia, and Italy were the first to participate, with the student-created short films premiering locally in theaters. The documentary will go behind the scenes of these productions, offering a glimpse into how storytelling empowers young voices.
A Shared Mission Through Cinema
Scorsese appears in the film, sharing a personal conversation with Pope Francis during a visit to his ancestral home in Sicily. For both men, storytelling is sacred.
“Now, more than ever, we need to talk to each other, listen to one another cross-culturally,” Scorsese said. “Cinema is the best medium to do that.” He emphasized the Pope’s belief in preserving cultural identity through dialogue and storytelling, adding, “It was important to Pope Francis for people across the globe to exchange ideas with respect.”
The documentary is directed by Clare Tavernor and Johnny Shipley and produced by Aldeas Scholas Films in association with Sikelia Productions and Massive Owl Productions. Alongside Scorsese, the producing team includes Teresa Leveratto, Ezequiel del Corral, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, and Amy Foster, with cinematography by acclaimed talents Ellen Kuras and Salvatore Totino.
Legacy of a Remarkable Life
Pope Francis died on Easter Sunday, and Scorsese shared a heartfelt tribute, calling the loss “deep.”
“He acknowledged his own failings. He radiated wisdom. He radiated goodness,” Scorsese wrote. “He knew in his soul that ignorance was a terrible plague on humanity… And, he embraced, preached and practiced forgiveness. Universal and constant forgiveness.”
The film is independently funded by international donors, with all proceeds going back into expanding the Aldeas initiative globally.
As a final note of significance, Pope Francis himself encouraged Scorsese, after their May 2023 meeting, to adapt The Life of Jesus for the screen. “Aldeas — A New Story” may be his last recorded message, but it continues a legacy rooted in understanding, storytelling, and human connection.
