In southern Italy, at the edge of the European Union, where African refugees are exploited as agricultural workers and forced to live in inhumane conditions, director Milo Rau creates a new kind of film between documentary and fiction. Together with political activist Yvan Sagnet, who plays Jesus, the film builds a contemporary Gospel inspired by the real struggle for migrants’ rights and the “Revolt of Dignity” movement.
In Matera, the iconic setting of biblical films by Pasolini and Mel Gibson, refugees, activists, farmers and professional actors reenact the Passion story in a contemporary political context, transforming the Christian myth into a manifesto about solidarity, freedom and social justice.
Cinematography: Thomas Eirich-Schneider Dramaturgy & Editing: Katja Dringenberg Original Sound: Marco Teufen, Julian Joseph Sound Editing: Guido Keller, Dieter Lengacher Set Design & Costumes: Anton Lukas, Ottavia Castellotti Music: Vinicio Capossela, Elia Rediger Dramaturgy & Concept: Eva-Maria Bertschy Dramaturgy & Assistant Director: Giacomo Bisordi Producers: Arne Birkenstock, Olivier Zobrist, Sebastian Lemke Narration and songs: Vinicio Capossela
Cast: Yvan Sagnet, Papa Latyr Faye, Samuel Jacobs, Yussif Bamba, Jeremiah Akhere Ogbeide, Mbaye Ndiaye, Kadir Alhaji Nasir, Ali Soumaila, Vito Castoro, Marie Antoinette Eyango, Anthony Nwachukwu, Mohammed Souleiman, Alexander Kwaku Marfo, Blessing Ayomonsuru, Marcello Fonte, Enrique Irazoqui, Maia Morgenstern Event in Italian, French and English, with translation into Romanian and English
Duration: 1h 47min Original title: Das Neue Evangelium Germany