← Back to results
Kidnapped
Rapito
2023 134 min Italy, France, Germany 12+
★7.4
Drama, History
Director: Marco Bellocchio
Trailers
EN
EN
Teaser
Teaser
EN
Description
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.
Budget:
$14.1M
US Gross:
$36,459
Worldwide:
$4.12M
Starring
Paolo Pierobon
Actor
Fausto Russo Alesi
Actor
Barbara Ronchi
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 2023
— Palme d'Or
César Awards 2024
— Best International Feature Film
Key opinion
Rapito is a powerful historical drama that captures the harrowing reality of the Mortara affair through strong performances and an emotionally charged narrative. While critics praise its atmospheric portrayal of the decline of the Papal States, some feel the film's pacing falters in its final act, leading to a conclusion that lacks the depth of its opening.
| Acting | Barbara Ronchi delivers a raw, standout performance that serves as the film's emotional anchor. | |
| Production | The film effectively uses stylized cinematography and sparing dialogue to capture the crumbling authority of the 19th-century papacy. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative successfully transitions from an intimate family tragedy to a high-stakes legal thriller. | |
| Pacing | The final act feels rushed and narratively underdeveloped, undermining the emotional weight built earlier in the film. |