Die Lage

Thomas Heise’s film reframes Pope Benedict XVI’s September 2011 visit to Erfurt not as a triumphal “Pope-mania” spectacle but as a meticulously orchestrated state ritual. In austere black-and-white, the omnipresent pontiff yields to police, snipers, security guards and a nervous premier, all in rigid protocol amidst Thuringia’s Catholic enclave. Under the cathedral’s slogan, “We are all together in our beliefs,” Heise quietly asks whether such choreographed faith still holds meaning.

Directed by Thomas Heise, Die Lage leans on a strong ensemble — Benedict XVI — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2012.