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Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara

Play trailer 1:16 Poster for Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara Released May 24 2h 14m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 70 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
In 1858, in the Jewish quarter of Bologna, the Pope's soldiers burst into the home of the Mortara family. By order of the cardinal, they have come to take Edgardo, their seven-year-old son. The child had been secretly baptized by his nurse as a baby and the papal law is unquestionable: he must receive a Catholic education. Edgardo's parents, distraught, will do anything to get their son back. Supported by public opinion and the international Jewish community, the Mortaras' struggle quickly take a political dimension. But the Church and the Pope will not agree to return the child, to consolidate an increasingly wavering power....
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Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara

Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara

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Critics Consensus

Based on indefensible truths,Kidnapped tackles institutional abuse with cinematic pomp and political circumstance.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle Bellocchio should be credited for shining a light on a forgotten pivotal event, but the real Mortaras deserve that light to be a little less dull. Rated: 2.5/5 Jun 20, 2024 Full Review Anne T. Donahue Globe and Mail A testament to the insidiousness of systemic abuse, Kidnapped illuminates the tragedy of unchecked power exploited by men. Jun 12, 2024 Full Review Sergio Burstein Los Angeles Times A top-notch film that no film buff, who so admired being one, should miss. [Full review in Spanish] Jun 12, 2024 Full Review Denise Pieniazek Puesta en Escena (AR) Without a doubt, this incredible true event that shows the antiquity of anti-Semitism and the brutal conversion attempts that the Jews suffered, deserved to be brought to the big screen. Rated: 9/10 Aug 22, 2024 Full Review Nate Tinner-Williams Black Catholic Messenger Even the victims of religious prejudice are apparently not immune to its viral effects. Perhaps there is a lesson for the Church today in the film’s message, ham-fisted though it may be. Rated: C Aug 10, 2024 Full Review Abe Friedtanzer Film Factual In its portrayal of the inflexibility of those who purport to serve divine will, this film is both extremely effective and chilling. Rated: B Jul 24, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Nancy I loved this movie. Whether you are Jewish or Catholic, you will find it so very interesting. Great acting Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/10/24 Full Review Audience Member RELIGION ODER SCHON SEKTE? Es ist das Jahr 1858, einer jüdische Familie wird der Sohn genommen da dieser "ausversehen" getauft wurde. Papst Pius IX fordert laut gültigen Gesetz das der Junge nach Rom gebracht wird, um da christlich Erzogen zu werden. Die Familie ist machtlos da sie als Nichtchristen keine Rechte haben, währenddessen wird ihr Sohn einer Gehirnwäsche unterzogen um an das scheinbar einzig richtige zu glauben. Die Bologna Entführung - Geraubt im Namen des Papstes oder im Original Kidnapped geht ca. 135 Minuten und ist ab 12 Jahren freigegeben. Wir haben hier ein Drama das auf wahren Begebenheiten beruht, in dem es darum geht wie ein Papst seine Macht ausnutzte um Familien zu entzweihen und jeden herab stufte die einen anderen Glauben haben. Die Handlung dreht sich um ein Kind, was nicht verstehen kann wieso es sich eine andere Religion aneignen muss und einen Papst, der Albträume von Juden bekommt. Das Thema an sich ist hochinteressant und bietet spannenden Stoff, das völlig wahnhafte Verhalten was im Namen Gottes getan wird, lässt einen nur mit dem Kopf schütteln. Allein der Grund für die "versehentliche" Taufe zeigt wie vernebelt der Kopf von so manchen "Gläubigen" sein kann was nicht mehr mit normalen Menschenverstand zu erklären ist. Jedoch fehlt das Tempo, die Erzählweise war mit persönlich zu langsam. Die Musik ist viel zu dramatisch und aufgesetzt. Die schauspielerische Leistung fand ich nicht gut, außer von der jüdischen Mutter fand ich alle nicht der Redewert. Das Finale lässt einen nur noch mit Fragezeichen zurück und mit Logik braucht man mir hier nicht mehr kommen. Am Ende bleibt ein Werk das von der Prämisse her für explosiven Zündstoff sorgt und man kann herrlich darüber diskutieren. Leider ist er zu langatmig, uninspiriert und einige Dinge ergeben keinen Sinn weil der Kontext fehlt. Von mir bekommt der Film 5/10 Punkten. Ein Facepalm für jede Aussage und Tat des Inquisitors, des Papstes und Christen. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/27/24 Full Review Alec B It is a fascinating examination of this event and one that doesn't find easy heroes or villains. The depiction of Mortara's seemingly random shifts from fanatical Christianity to an almost equally fanatical rejection of it is one of the movie's bolder decisions. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/10/24 Full Review John S KIDDING AROUND Kidnapping is a crime, and so is "Kidnapped". Truly astonishing how a truly astonishing story translates into a truly astonishing piece of passable cinema on the big screen. A young Jewish boy, secretly baptized into the Catholic faith by his babysitter, is abducted from his family under religious rule. Crazy, but this is 1857 Bologna, 1857 Italy, and 1857 Pope. The film is presented in grand oil painting style, with golden lighting, velvety robes a flowing, and evil lurking in the shadows. Looks great. Plays, not so much. Hard to imagine a juicier topic handled with such a soft touch. Everyone involved seems detached of real emotion, instead relying on business like restraint, especially in what should be an inflammatory kidnapping scene. Weird. The set up is tantalizing enough to give hope, but steam is lost quickly as "Kidnapped" starts to spin its wheels while going nowhere slow. A tale as such, and it is a true one, begs for a grand, epic treatment, where religion, country and family come together in a clash of Biblical proportions. Instead we get an educational history lesson with easily forgettable characters. - hipCRANK Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/03/24 Full Review JeeHwan L I watched this movie in Busan International Film Festival. I watched with more than 500 people, and every people make serious face after the movie. This movie make me think a lot about Catholic Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/29/24 Full Review C S All kinds of emotions throughout and educational on the Jewish and Catholic faiths in the 1800s. The ending made me truly appreciate my faith. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/14/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1858, in the Jewish quarter of Bologna, the Pope's soldiers burst into the home of the Mortara family. By order of the cardinal, they have come to take Edgardo, their seven-year-old son. The child had been secretly baptized by his nurse as a baby and the papal law is unquestionable: he must receive a Catholic education. Edgardo's parents, distraught, will do anything to get their son back. Supported by public opinion and the international Jewish community, the Mortaras' struggle quickly take a political dimension. But the Church and the Pope will not agree to return the child, to consolidate an increasingly wavering power....
Director
Marco Bellocchio
Producer
Beppe Caschetto, Simone Gattoni
Screenwriter
Marco Bellocchio, Susanna Nicchiarelli
Distributor
Cohen Media Group
Production Co
Ad Vitam, IBC Movie, RAI Cinema, Kavac Film, The Match Factory
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
May 24, 2024, Limited
Release Date (DVD)
Jul 2, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA)
$36.5K
Runtime
2h 14m
Sound Mix
Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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