The Catholic School

2021

1 hr. 46 min.

Drama

List

13%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

21%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

In 1975, three students at a prestigious all-male Catholic high school in Rome commit a horrifying crime that shocks their classmates and community.

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Jeff M

This was without a doubt one of the most unpleasant movie-watching experiences I've had in eons. I am certainly not opposed to films that artistically want to explore lurid topics and disturbing subject matter, but when it is done without an ounce of creativity or imagination - or even coherence, for that matter - I am left incensed. My confusion was only surpassed by my apathy. We are introduced to a handful of characters who are given absolutely no development or introspection to such a degree that I honestly couldn't keep track of who was who and who was related to who and who hated who... you get the point. And the ending, while not overly explicit and gratuitous, is so repugnant and repellant that it took every ounce of willpower as a completist not to shut it off. Apparently, this was based on a true story, and the victims involved deserved a much better interpretation of their story than this. Incoherent, unpleasant... I think I've said my peace. I suggest avoiding this one at all costs.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Mary M

It seemed at first to be a coming-of-age movie, full of vignettes of boys and their families, and some boys bullying others. There were a few scenes in school, but not enough to earn the title. The narration seems to be building up a case for their schooling and upbringing contributing to the horrific crime, but it doesn't work. I couldn't differentiate the characters well. The movie focused more on the ones who didn't commit the crimes. I don't remember one of the criminals even going to the school. To me, the crime sprung from nowhere. There was one beautiful shot, of Donnatella lazily gazing out a car window during a first encounter with one of the eventual murderers. I guess presented as a contrast with her later fate. The movie just didn't hang together.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

Ian R

I wanted to like this film. Unfortunately, it's narrative was a mess. In the end, for all it's attempts at presenting a story of morality, the film is unsatisfying and ultimately meaningless. Many parts of it were just incomprehensible.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/15/23

Full Review

ylenia

sto film fa pietà e misericordia. per carità, un fatto reale che ha sconvolto l'italia pace all'anima di quella povera rosaria e donatella ma cristo santo ce la fate ad onorare e a raccontare questa storia come si deve? tette e culi ovunque, piselli che facevano boinboinboing perché quelli correvano nudi come delle scimmie. per non parlare di come hanno recitato con quelle frasi ad effetto prese da wattpad madonna mi avete fatto fare un account per raccontare quanto abbia fatto cagare pietà e misericordia.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/06/23

Full Review

CriminalMente P

Great Movie, great actors

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/27/23

Full Review

Terianne F

There might have been an interesting story behind this but it was never shown on the screen. Confusing. Who was Eduardo in all this?

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/11/22

Full Review

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Stefano Mordini

Director

Benedetta Porcaroli

Actor

Giulio Pranno

Actor

Federica Torchetti

Actor

Angelica Elli

Actor

Gianluca Guidi

Actor

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Lovia Gyarkye

Hollywood Reporter

Strong performances from the actors playing the students really hold the film together.

Sep 21, 2021

Full Review

Jessica Kiang

Variety

Mordini's film... attempts to have its cake and torture it too.

Sep 17, 2021

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

This is so ham-fisted you wish some woman exec in the production had given director Mordini a good bawling out over the lack of sensitivity

Rated: 1.5/4

Jun 12, 2023

Full Review

Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

Apart from its confusing structure and the lack of a main character, the movie's worst crime is that it seems designed to let the boys off the hook.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 22, 2022

Full Review

Juan Pablo Russo

EscribiendoCine

Unlike the book, the film fails in its inability to tie the relationship between the Catholic school and the violence it engenders. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Sep 16, 2022

Full Review

John Serba

Decider

... Rolls and sputters and stalls, posturing like a bold statement, but ultimately delivering only muddled implications about why bad people do bad things.

Sep 15, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1975, three students at a prestigious all-male Catholic high school in Rome commit a horrifying crime that shocks their classmates and community.

Director: Stefano Mordini
Executive Producer: Chiara Grassi
Screenwriter: Massimo Gaudioso, Luca Infascelli, Stefano Mordini
Production Co: Regione Lazio, Picomedia, Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Warner Bros.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 14, 2022

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