We Have a Pope / Habemus Papam

Directed by Nanni Moretti. Starring Michel Piccoli, Nanni Moretti, Jerzy Stuhr, Renato Scarpa PG cert, Cineworld/IFI, Dublin, 102 min

TEN YEARS ago, Nanni Moretti won the Palme d'Or at Cannes with a film, The Son's Room, that found favour with every sane observer. Since then the Italian auteur has been treading water somewhat. Surely, a satire about the Catholic Church might be just the thing to get the leftist director's creative juices flowing again.

Not quite. We Have a Popecertainly has its fair share of laugh-out-loud moments. The great Michel Piccoli is both poignant and ridiculous as a cardinal who runs screaming from the top job. But, ultimately, the film feels a bit toothless and underpowered. Even the most fanatically faithful viewer will struggle to take serious offence.

Beginning with footage of the real Pope John Paul II's funeral, the film then brings us among the college of fictional cardinals as they attempt to select the next pontiff. Eventually they settle upon Cardinal Melville (Piccoli). The officials get so far as to announce " habemus papam", but, before the name can be read, Melville, suddenly aware of the responsibility he is taking on, runs shrieking from the room.

Various farcical developments follow. The film tends towards Analyse Thisas a psychiatrist (Moretti) is brought in. We think of Roman Holidayas Cardinal Melville escapes the clutches of officials and wanders the capital. Too often we are reminded of mid-level sitcoms as the jokes become ever cuter and safer.

If you approach Habemus Papamas a light-hearted farce – "One of Our Popes Is Missing" – then it will work nicely for you. Certainly, nobody could fault Piccoli's flawless performance. But, knowing Moretti to be a man of some depth (and anger), the viewer has the right to expect a little more bile from such a project. Don't expect to encounter placard- wielders outside the cinema.