This seems to be a TV movie. It explains his impacts in the 80s but it is not an epic journey. His life however was probably more epic. Lots of arguing but the film seems to lack poise. It is somewhat light like a comedy. Also, too much smoking by the church representants looks like sin nowaday. Although probably accurate, it does not convey the stress but rather a bad habit.

Viewed at the Third Jewish Film Festival of Budapest, November 20-23, 2014."Le Métis de Dieu" or "The Jewish Cardinal" is a most poignant docudrama based on the actual biography of Jean-Marie Lustiger, the Archbishop of Orléans from 1981 to 2005. NOTE: The French word "métis" means Half-breed" so a direct translation of the French title would be "God's Half-breed" -- not inappropriate! The Jewish catch of this film -- and what a catch it is -- is that Lustiger was actually a Polish born Jew who was made to convert to Catholicism early in life and then rose through the ranks of the French Catholic hierarchy in an unstoppable arc. Always aware of his Jewish background he suffers all kinds of conflicts, internal and external, but eventually becomes buddies with Polish Pope John Paul II -- so friendly in fact that he calls the Pope by his secular first name, Karol, (originally Karol Wojtyla) at the dinner table. The portrayal of Pope Jean- Paul II by actor Aurélien Recoing is so off-the-wall that this aspect of the film alone would be well worth the price of admission to any self-respecting Polak. It is known that Jean Paul was athletic, but here we see him plunging into his private swimming pool, driving a car, and generally cavorting about like a rather ribald ordinary citizen. Obviously a point director Ilan Duran Cohen (Obviously Jewish) wanted to make in passing. The climax is reached when at The Pope's behest Lustiger is called upon to act as an intermediary negotiator at the gates of Auschwitz between Christian proponents of a Carmelite Convent Which has popped up next to the former Concentration Camp, and vehemently protesting Jews who consider it an outrage to erect a Christian monument on the very ground where so many Jews were murdered -- (by Christian! -- even if not in the name of religion.). This is a gripping drama straight through with complex psychological repercussions at every turn. Originally made for French TV but reads far more like an in situ cinema film. Laurent Lucas is Lustiger in a role to remember. Great picture, and not only for the obviously Jewish content. BRAVO, Ilan D. Cohen, Regisseur!

This movie carries with it a large amount of animosity between Jews and Catholics, especially in regard to who owned the rights to display Auschwitz as a central part of their history of suffering. But, to me, it expresses a great need to announce to the world the completeness by those Jews who have grown to accept Jesus as their long awaited Messiah. What some have come to call themselves today -- those who are both Christian and Jewish at birth -- is a "completed Jew." There are today many Messianic Christian fellowships, one of which is called Jews for Jesus. Obviously, during the time this film was made, there weren't that many completed Jews making public statements, so that is why it was so newsworthy in the mid 80s. Today, this fact should be old news.

I just came back from seeing this today at the Jewish Film Festival and it was absolutely wonderful, I highly recommend it. A movie that takes on the identity of Judaism and Catholicism, the separation, and hopefully reconciliation of our humanity... when faced with such difficult issues as a convent on Auschwitz, and how one can maintain one's Jewish identity, while believing in a path of Jesus, without renouncing one or the other, though so many from both schools believe you should take a side so to speak. I feel very similar in my life, born a Jew, having had my deepest spiritual experiences in life with God and Jesus, but also of Buddhism... this is how I reconcile the dichotomy... A Jewish Seed, grows in the love of God, the love of Jesus, and the wisdom of Buddhism. This movie was challenging but loving, beautiful, and intelligent. I guess people really did smoke that much in the '80s, eh?