Kidnapped
dir. Marco Bellocchio · 2023
The struggle for identity and belonging can lead to profound conflict and suffering in the face of societal and cultural pressures.
A young Jewish boy named Edgardo Mortara is taken from his family in Bologna after being secretly baptized, igniting a fierce struggle between his parents and the papacy. Watching this film is like stepping into a historical moment where innocence collides with the harsh realities of political and religious power, evoking a deep sense of loss and contemplation.
The story of Edgardo Mortara, a young Jewish boy living in Bologna, Italy, who in 1858, after being secretly baptized, was forcibly taken from his family to be raised as a Christian. His parents’ struggle to free their son became part of a larger political battle that pitted the papacy against forces of democracy and Italian unification.
Talking points
- the impact of religious identity on personal lives
- the intersection of family and state
- historical injustices and their modern implications
