Prompted by the news on Pope John Paul II's passing, I thought of Anthony Quinn's role in "The Shoes of the Fisherman" (1968). I caught it one evening on cable TCM (Turner Classic Movies). Quinn certainly delivered a convincing cardinal Kiril Lakota in director Michael Anderson's 1968 MGM film version of writer Morris West's novel, with a stellar supporting cast including Laurence Olivier, Leo McKern and Oskar Werner. He inhabited the role completely with such grace and facility, making the moments of hesitancy and dialogs with humility so real. For instance, he made the little detour segment so sensitively endearing. Author Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" may be an intriguing suspenseful read revolving around Catholicism and the 'mysterious' Vatican, but Anthony Quinn's performance made "The Shoes of the Fisherman" an interesting movie to watch about the Vatican's Conclave process; the film score by composer Alex North is also appreciated. (If you've visited the Vatican in Rome, it makes viewing and reading about the papacy the more fascinating.)
I thought: by the infinite wisdom of the Lord, what a way to remind us that death is inevitable to every man, even the Pope. Many of us complain about so much deaths these days in ongoing wars, unforeseen disasters, yet things seem to happen for a reason and death being a part of the process of life. Yes, it's easy to comment when the loss of someone dear is not so close to home - still, 'natural' happenings, cause unbeknown to us (mortals cannot see the reasons why), can very well be blessings in disguise, and the (divine) design for what might be to come. Here's to the succeeding "Fisherman" with all the inner strength needed.
I thought: by the infinite wisdom of the Lord, what a way to remind us that death is inevitable to every man, even the Pope. Many of us complain about so much deaths these days in ongoing wars, unforeseen disasters, yet things seem to happen for a reason and death being a part of the process of life. Yes, it's easy to comment when the loss of someone dear is not so close to home - still, 'natural' happenings, cause unbeknown to us (mortals cannot see the reasons why), can very well be blessings in disguise, and the (divine) design for what might be to come. Here's to the succeeding "Fisherman" with all the inner strength needed.