Credited from: NYTIMES
Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese is producing a new documentary titled "Aldeas – A New Story", featuring an on-camera interview with the late Pope Francis. This film aims to chronicle the Pope's work with cinema in educating youth and promoting cultural understanding through the global initiative he founded, Scholas Occurrentes. This educational movement encourages communities worldwide to develop short films that highlight their identities, histories, and values, according to Le Monde and Reuters.
The documentary will weave snippets of the previously unseen conversation between Scorsese and the Pope, capturing the essence of Francis's belief in the sacred nature of creativity. Before his passing, Francis expressed that "Aldeas" was an extremely poetic and very constructive project addressing the roots of human life and sociability. Scorsese highlighted the importance of cross-cultural dialogue and preserving cultural identity through cinema, according to The New York Times and Reuters.
Scorsese has forged a long-standing relationship with Pope Francis, engaging in discussions about various projects over the years, including "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "Silence." In a statement following the Pope's death, Scorsese reflected on Francis's commitment to enlightenment, stating that "he knew in his soul that ignorance was a terrible plague on humanity." No release date has been provided for the film, according to The New York Times and Le Monde.