Reaching out to the new generation: John Paul II documentary unlike any other

What separates the new film from older versions is the connection to modern times.

Thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square and around their television sets to pray for Pope John Paul II as he passed away on April 2, 2005. They remembered the more than 26 years he served as the Holy Father; the courage he had in fighting communism; his immense love; and his adventurous spirit.

But that was eleven years ago.

Denver, CO (CNA/EWTN News) - The generations of young people who grew up during the papacies of Benedict XVI and Pope Francis might only know St. John Paul II for his canonization, which took place April 27, 2014.

The new documentary Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism hopes to educate these younger generations on the heroic life of the Roman Pontiff - telling the stories they cannot find in their textbooks.

"One of the reasons we set out to make this film is to kind of cement the legacy of Pope John Paul II," David Naglieri, the film's writer and director, told CNA.

"There's a generation now that's graduating college, entering the workforce, that didn't necessarily live through all these events with the fall of Communism. Perhaps they didn't . have the chance to see Pope John Paul II in person."

Like a real life super-hero movie, the 90-minute film focuses on the saint's role as an integral part in the fall of communism in central and eastern Europe - except St. John Paul II did not use destructive weapons to take down some of the world's toughest leaders.

Rather, he used prayer and solidarity to encourage those oppressed by communism in Poland to keep their hope and will alive.

According to Naglieri, this documentary is unlike any other John Paul II film.

"What helps separate our film from past works is that we looked at the entire span of central and eastern Europe and how his message not just impacted Poland, but other countries as well," he said.

"And then we tried to connect it to the modern day and to see how John Paul's legacy continues to impact those who are striving for freedom in Europe."

The film reveals the events in St. John Paul II's life through a timeline, which helps show how God's providence guided the saint his entire life.

The late Pope grew up in Krakow, and became its archbishop in 1964. The documentary explains how he returned to the city for nine days in 1979, the year after his election as Bishop of Rome, instead of his intended two.

An interview in the documentary with Dr. Norman Davies, a historian of Poland, explains how the government's distribution of antennas during the 1980 Olympic games led to the spreading of St. John Paul II's message behind the Iron Curtain.

The film even tells the story of how President Reagan and the Pope met six days before the president's famous 'tear down this wall' speech in 1987.

Filled with striking stories and interviews such as these, the documentary shows who truly held the power during this difficult time in the world's history.

Naglieri said the film was an 18-month project from beginning to end, and that "we traveled to Poland and other central European countries several times during the making of it. "

The documentary features interviews with Reagan's National Security Advisor from 1981-82, the Prime Minister of Poland, the Archbishop of Lviv, a former Director of the Holy See Press Office, as well as journalists, historians, authors, and professors.

Narrating the documentary is Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Christ in Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ'. Joe Kraemer, known for his work on multiple 'Mission Impossible' movies, composed the documentary's original music.

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