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ERA
Did you know
Released 17 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Pope Joan
2009 2h 29m EN
👍
6.8
SOLID
⭐
6.7
IMDB
★6.8TMDB · 370★6.7IMDB · 9,350
DramaHistoryRomance
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
A 9th century woman of English extraction born in the German city of Ingelheim disguises herself as a man and rises through the Vatican ranks.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Cast
John Goodman
Pope Sergius II.
Johanna Wokalek
Johanna von Ingelheim
David Wenham
Gerold
Iain Glen
Village Priest
Edward Petherbridge
Aesculapius
Anatole Taubman
Anastasius
Lotte Flack
Johanna von Ingelheim - Age 10-14
Tigerlily Hutchinson
Johanna von Ingelheim - Age 6-9
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Sönke Wortmann
- Writers
- Heinrich Hadding
- Languages
- German, Latin, English
- Countries
- Germany, Italy, Morocco, Spain
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, Latin, English.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 4 countries: Germany, Italy, Morocco, Spain.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Sönke Wortmann, shot by Tom Fährmann. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Marcel Barsotti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Hans Funck shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
John Goodman and Johanna Wokalek and David Wenham carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0458455 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Sönke Wortmann directs. Tom Fährmann behind the camera. Marcel Barsotti scores. Hans Funck cuts. Produced in Germany, Italy, Morocco, Spain. Dialogue in German, Latin, English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Released 17 years ago.
- 2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, Latin, English.
- 3International production across 4 countries: Germany, Italy, Morocco, Spain.
- 4Directed by Sönke Wortmann, shot by Tom Fährmann. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Marcel Barsotti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Hans Funck shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7John Goodman and Johanna Wokalek and David Wenham carry the top of the cast.
- 8IMDB entry: tt0458455 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Tom Fährmann
- Original score
- Marcel Barsotti
- Editing
- Hans Funck
- Production design
- Bernd Lepel
- Costume design
- Esther Walz
- Runtime
- 149 min · 2h 29m
- Status
- Released
- Box office
- $28,748,076
- Original language
- EN
- IMDB
- Pope Joan (2009)
- IMDB rating
- 6.7/10 · 9,350 votes
Awards
6 wins & 6 nominations total
Also by
Sönke Wortmann
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Constantin Film
DE
- DU
Dune Films
MA
Ikiru Films
ES
Medusa Film
IT
NDR
DE
MDR
DE
SWR
DE
WDR
DE
ARD Degeto
DE
Key crew
- NovelDonna Woolfolk Cross
- StuntsAlessija Lause
- Stunt DoubleVanessa Wieduwilt
- CastingAnja Dihrberg
- Art DirectionUwe Szielasko
- CastingToby Whale
- Production DesignBernd Lepel
- Set DecorationJohannes Wild
- ProducerOliver Berben
- Art DirectionHucky Hornberger
- EditorHans Funck
- Costume DesignEsther Walz
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- germany
- empowerment
- vatican (holy see)
- pope
- 9th century
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical2009-10-22
Also known as
International titles
- ИоаннаRU
- 聖袍天下：驚世女教皇TW
