The Kidnapping of the Pope, based on a true story, opens in theaters

In a remarkable debut, Brazilian cinema opens its doors this Thursday, the 18th, to The Kidnapping of the Popea cinematographic work directed by Marco Bellocchio which recalls the enigmatic case of Edgardo Mortara. This feature-length film not only captures attention for its historical content, but also rekindles debates about faith, identity and freedom.

The center of this plot is Edgardo Mortaratorn from his Jewish family at the age of six in Bologna, Italy. The episode, which unfolded between June 23 and 24, 1858, not only shook the city, but echoed through history as one of the most controversial kidnappings ever recorded. Unexpectedly named by a family servant, the fate of Edgardo took a new path under Catholic indoctrination. Separated from his parents, he became a priest and lived far from his family.

The case Mortara is emblematic, standing out not only for its extraordinary character, but also for the complexity of the religious and social issues it raised at the time. The details of this narrative are immortalized in the literary work The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortarain David I. Kertzeran indispensable resource for those seeking to understand the nuances of this historic event.

Marco Bellocchiowhen introducing ourselves The Kidnapping of the Popeensures that his cinematic approach goes beyond fiction. In statements made during the Cannes Film Festival, the director emphasized the historical research that underpins the film. In addition to being inspired by the work of Kertzer, Bellocchio mentions the works of Vittorio Messori It is Daniele Scalise as pillars for the narrative construction, which is based on key events: the kidnapping in 1858, subsequent trial in 1860 and the capture of Rome in 1870.

Bellocchio clarifies that The Kidnapping of the Pope is not intended to be a political manifesto against the Church or to favor one side over the other. Instead, it seeks to explore the depths of the human experience of Edgardo Mortarawhose life was indelibly marked by events that today seem inconceivable. In an age dominated by closed dialogues and rigid doctrines, Mortara’s trajectory resonates as a powerful testimony to the complexity of questions of faith and identity.

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