23.04.25, 20:30, Il Vangelo secondo Matteo (1964)

See JC resurrected on the big screen with this post-Easter Pier Paolo Pasolini splendour. In a world where the divine is often portrayed as exalted and unreachable, Il Vangelo secondo Matteo brings Christ back to earth. Pasolini takes a radically sobering look at the life of Jesus, far removed from the glamour of Hollywood or the didactics of religious cinema. Filmed in breathtaking black and white amidst the rugged landscapes of southern Italy, this biblical narrative feels more like a morally layered documentary than a hagiography.

Pasolini, himself an atheist, approaches the gospel not as a divine miracle, but as a human drama full of political and social tension. The camera follows Christ up close as a wandering disciple, a social rebel whose words and deeds cut deep into the established order. The combination of neorealist cinematography, an eclectic soundtrack with Bach and Congolese chants, and a cast of non-professional actors makes the film as raw as it is moving. Il Vangelo secondo Matteo is not a hymn of praise, but a timeless call for justice.