The Jewish Cardinal (2014)

God's Mixed Child

Directed by Ilan Duran Cohen, "The Jewish Cardinal" is based upon the life of Aaron Jean-Marie Lustiger (1926 -- 2007) who late in this film refers to himself as "God's Mixed Child". Lustiger was born Jewish but at age of 14 converted to Catholicism after a strong religious experience. He became a priest and rose in the Church when Pope John Paul II appointed him in succession Bishop of Orleans, Archbishop of Paris, and Cardinal. Lustiger enjoyed a close relationship with Pope John Paul II and advised him on many occasions on important matters.

In French with English subtitles, "The Jewish Cardinal" offers a moving portrayal of Lustiger, focusing on his difficult position, to himself and others, as "God's mixed child". The film begins with his elevation to Bishop in 1979 and proceeds forward in time with many flashbacks to Lustiger's youth. As a child, Lustiger experienced violent anti-Semitism first hand during a stay as an exchange student in Berlin in the late 1930s. Lustiger's mother had been killed at Auschwitz. His relationship with his non-religious father was strained at best. At the end of WW II, his father tried unsuccessfully to get his son's early conversion annulled. Elements of the Catholic Church opposed Lustiger's elevation. A passionate man, Lustiger describes himself many times in strongly Jewish terms as, for example, "born Jewish, and so I remain." The film also portrays him as devoted to his Catholicism and to the Church.

The movie gradually develops a focus on Lustiger's role in defusing controversy over the establishment of a convent for Carmelite nuns in the mid-1980s. Many found the convent offensive to the memory of the Jews murdered at the camp. Lustiger visited the camp and was overcome with the memory of his mother. The film shows his torment when he could pray neither as a Jew nor as a Christian. Lustiger worked with an initially hostile Polish Cardinal and with negotiators for the Jewish community. After substantial difficulty he helped persuade Pope John Paul II to close and move the convent.

The movie is convincingly acted and filmed with the strongest scenes between Lustiger (Laurent Lucas) and the Polish-born Pope (Aurelien Recoing). The recently canonized John Paul II receives a sympathetic presentation, showing his religious devotion, political sensitivities, and genuine friendship with Lustiger, with the two sometimes arguing, but also having swimming races and joking. The film has an appropriate, beautiful musical score which includes music from Schubert and Gluck.

The film poignantly shows an individual firm in his Catholic convictions who continued to identify with the Judaism of his birth. The situation could only produce strong internal turmoil. I learned from getting to know Cardinal Lustiger through this film. The movie will appeal to viewers with a strong interest in religious questions, whether they are believers in a faith, of mixed faith, or of questioning, ambivalent faith. In the modern world, there are many ways to be "God's mixed child".

Robin Friedman