NEW YORK, NY.- The Pope’s Toilet (2007), the bittersweet directorial debut feature of Enrique Fernández, a writer born in Melo, Uruguay, and César Charlone, the Uruguayan cinematographer of City of God and The Constant Gardener, will have a weeklong run at The Museum of Modern Art, from April 8 through 13, 2009.

Set in 1988, in the impoverished town of Melo, Uruguay, the narrative is based on the visit of Pope John Paul II to Melo. Expecting hordes of Brazilian visitors from across the nearby border, the townspeople anticipate a material, if not spiritual, windfall. But while everyone else plans to set up stalls for food and drink, one enterprising smuggler decides that a public pay toilet is a can’t-miss scheme. Enlisting the help of his neighbor and using money that his wife had set aside for their daughter’s education, he sets his plan in motion-but a series of obstacles puts his marriage and friendships to the test.

MoMA Presents: The Pope’s Toilet is organized by Laurence Kardish, Senior Curator, Department of Film, with thanks to Film Movement.

El Baño del Papa (The Pope’s Toilet). 2007. Uruguay/Brazil/ France.
Written and directed by Enrique Fernández, César Charlone. Cinematography by Charlone. Produced by Elena Roux. With Cesar Troncoso, Mario Silva, Virginia Méndez, Virginia Ruiz.

Print courtesy Film Movement. In Spanish; English subtitles. 97 min.

SCREENING SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, April 8, 4:00 & 7:00
Thursday, April 9, 4:00
Friday, April 10, 7:00
Saturday, April 11, 1:30
Sunday, April 12, 2:00 & 5:00
Monday, April 13, 4:00