S.tories of a generation with Pope Francis is a poetic tale about the third age, as a human heritage to be preserved and protected. A project that first became a best seller and then testimony of life and resilience from today on Netflix. With stories that become extraordinary in their absolute normality. A starting point for a spiritual reflection.
The protagonists are women and men (over 70) from all over the world who tell their stories existential experiences to as many young directors (under 30).
In an intense intergenerational dialogue with Pope Bergoglio, who accepted to participate in the project only on one condition: not to be the protagonist, but a simple interviewee like the others. The docuseries is headed by Simona Ercolani and inspired by the pontiff’s book The wisdom of time.
“Stories of a generation with Pope Francis”. (Netflix)
Stories of a generation with Pope Francis, the plot
Eighteen elderly, belonging to different ethnic groups, religions, social classes and from five continents they show the most intimate and human side of their lives, their values.
Divided into 4 episodes, marked by the great themes of humanity themes: love, dreams, struggle, work.
Among the interviewees Estela Barnes de Carlotto, animator of the movement Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, a group of indomitable old women who set out in search of all the disappeared children; the famous ethologist Jane Goodall, which traces the studies that revolutionized the way beings humans relate to animals, revealing the secret behind his work: the love.
Carlos and Cristina Solis protagonists “Stories of a generation with Pope Francis”. (Netflix)
Vito Fiorino, ice cream maker in Lampedusa and a life turned upside down by the encounter with immigration; the couple made up of Carlos And Cristina Solis, husband and wife united for fifty years since passion for tango.
In the end Njagi Mugwetwa, a blind basket maker in Kenya; Jacques Pepin, chef, host and author of cooking programs; Andrea Mendoza Chiviliu, a textile manufacturer in Guatemala and many others.
Love for Pope Francis
The first episode opens with Pope francesco, questioned about the meaning of love from Father Antonio Spadaro, his trusted advisor. Hearty laughter, complicit smiles and ironic looks between the two.
“Do you like tango? Have you ever danced it? What is love?He asks Spadaro while the highest office in the church replies in an amused tone: “You can simply say that it is a feeling, a series of electrical impulses or something similar to magnetic fields coming together. For sure love is free or it is not love.“
They confront each other amiably in a conversation which is the leitmotif of the docuseries. Talk like Jorge Mario Bergoglio and grants anecdotes, reflections and smiles. He remembers himself as a young man, when he danced the tango, and the special relationship with grandmother Rosa who knew how to love “what I appreciated most about her were her silences“.
Relaxed, he opened up also speaking of passions common to many, of the people he calls i “Saints next door”, believers and non-believers: the heroes of everyday life.
Martin Scorsese’s intimate confessions
The contribution of the Oscar winner goes straight to the heart, Martin Scorsese. To the daughter, Francesca Scorsese, the Italian-American director of Taxi driver unveils some unprecedented aspects of his life, and also lets himself go through private family movies.
Martin Scorsese with his daughter, Francesca Scorsese. (Netflix)
She also honestly admits the failures and regret of not raising her other daughters, due to her obsession with imprinting images on film. AND its most difficult moments, like the illness of his wife, the producer Helen Morris.
The Pope praises him for having had the courage to show pain on the screen. AND Scorsese think the Papa is the only great global leader capable of being listened to by everyone in the world.
The importance of multigenerational dialogue
Stories of a generation shows how important it is to touch central themes in a person’s existence. Keep the memory, memories, experiences pass to increase knowledge.
In a world that still battles the virus COVID-19 it becomes essential to support the wisdom of the elderly to the tumultuous passion of the young it is what it takes to change the world, and the future of humanity.
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