The Faithful: The King, The Pope, The Princess is a quest for faith, purpose, and meaning through the images of iconic figures. Produced and directed by Annie Berman, the documentary probes the celebrity status of three global icons: Princess Diana, Pope John Paul II, and Elvis Presley.
Berman profiles the biggest fans of these icons, traveling to Kensington Palace, Graceland, and Vatican City to film and interview them. The educational documentary begins with a stern disclaimer that the three icon’s estates do not authorize it, and it’s just a reflection of the three of the most popular people in the world and those who worship them.
The Faithful: The King, The Pope, The Princess took twenty years to make. Over the years, after coming across Pope Pop at a hotdog stand in Vatican City, Berman made hundreds of videotapes of fan interviews, collector homes, Elvis and Diana vigils, memorabilia sellers, and Pope fan collections.
In the film, we meet Rockin’ Robin, a long-time Elvis fan who got the nickname from Elvis himself. Robin is the biggest Elvis collector in the world, and she showcases over 40,000 stacks and piles related to The King. You’ll also hear the story of a woman Berman meets at the Graceland vigil as she expresses her love for Elvis.
Berman takes us to the United Kingdom, where we meet an English fan of Princess Diana who calls herself the Loyalist Royalist. She manages Heritage House, full of Lady Diana’s memorabilia that also doubles as a bed and breakfast.
Another scene filmed by the director is a yearly gathering of Catholic youths to honor Pope John Paul II, dubbed Popestock. Berman also interviews two nuns that adore Pope John Paul II and one tells the story of meeting the late pope.
The film is an interesting take, showing how people hold various things dear. It explores how the public reacts to iconic people and how they impact the world around them. The Faithful: The King, The Pope, The Princess is a great selection for developing your library collection in popular culture and entertainment history.
What public library shelves would this title be on?
The Faithful: The King, The Pope, The Princess is a film about impactful icons whose influence is still felt even after their deaths. It would suit a shelf with similar films touching on celebrity influence. It also belongs on library shelves focused on pop culture and its historical impact on the people at the time.
What schools or colleges is this documentary appropriate for?
Because of its look at popular culture and iconic images throughout the years, The Faithful: The King, The Pope, The Princess is suitable for art and culture colleges.