This film is part of Free
Pope Leo XIII Being Seated Bestowing Blessing
A film first - a Papal blessing for the camera
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Silent
Overview
This is the culmination of WKL Dickson's cinematic coup - the first ever filmed Pope confers his blessing. No doubt Pope Leo XIII meant his blessing to reach through the screen to a wide audience, but is it too fanciful to imagine that he was also blessing the new medium of film itself?
Pope Leo XIII - already 88 years old and 20 years into his reign by the time these images were taken - was a surprisingly canny media operator, who had previously consented to having his voice recorded. This was one of a series of films of Leo and his retinue shot by Dickson during an Italian tour in 1898 - after months of negotiations with the Vatican.
Subjects
Related
Grand Tour
Tram Journey through Southampton Tram Journey through Southampton
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent Location: Southampton
A moving tour through lively turn-of-the-century Southampton.
Churned Waters Churned Waters
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins Silent
A hypnotic study of the wake of a ship at sea
Panorama of the Paris Exhibition No. 3 Panorama of the Paris Exhibition No. 3
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent
An unusual view of Paris, shot from a boat travelling down the Seine. You can even see the Eiffel tower - almost!
Railway Ride over the Tay Bridge Railway Ride over the Tay Bridge
Non-Fiction 1897 5 mins Silent Location: Tay Bridge
Stunning train's eye views across the Tay rail bridge from Fife to Dundee
Phantom Ride - Chamonix Phantom Ride - Chamonix
Non-Fiction 1900 2 mins Silent
Admire the view but don't look down, as this short film takes you on a breathtaking trip through the Alps
A Steamship Passes By A Steamship Passes By
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins
With energetic waving of handkerchiefs to those on shore, a large steamship heads off
New
How to Die Young in Manila How to Die Young in Manila
Drama 2020 12 mins
A teenage boy trails a group of young hustlers, thinking one of them may be his anonymous hook-up for the night.
The Summer of 12 The Summer of 12
Drama 2019 25 mins
Amongst the young members of a swimming team, the onset of puberty brings unwanted challenges.
Melt Melt
Drama 2018 12 mins
When Little Jia is asked to read his essay about how he spent Women's Day with his mother out loud in class, he has to hide the sad truth that only his friend Dong knows.
Langit Budak Biru Langit Budak Biru
Drama 2018 23 mins
Two teenage boys in a Malaysian boarding school wrestle with the challenges of bullying and identity.
Kiss of the Rabbit God Kiss of the Rabbit God
Fantasy 2019 15 mins
A Chinese-American restaurant worker falls in love with an 18th century Qing dynasty god, who visits him at night and leads him on a journey of sexual awakening and self-discovery.
Red Aninsri; Or, Tiptoeing on the Still Trembling Berlin Wall Red Aninsri; Or, Tiptoeing on the Still Trembling Berlin Wall
Drama 2020 30 mins
A transgender sex worker is assigned an undercover mission to investigate a student activist.