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The Catholic School

Play trailer Poster for The Catholic School 2021 1h 46m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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14% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 21% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
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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The Catholic School

Critics Reviews

View All (7) Critics Reviews
Lovia Gyarkye The 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 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 Nathaniel Rogers The Film Experience The film is interesting and ambitious but not always focused given how many things it's trying to juggle in its near constant voiceover: religion, parenting, masculinity, faith, character bios, peer pressure, sexuality, etcetera Rated: C Nov 2, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (11) audience reviews
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 Joe S Muddled, with unclear attempt to connect a horrific crime to the Catholic school, except obliquely in that the expensive Catholic school seems to produce despicable boys like those in "Lord of the Flies" -- except the savagery here is directed at girls. Ultimately, in its graphic depiction of a murder and rapes, this seems like a glorified snuff film. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/01/22 Full Review Read all reviews
The Catholic School

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

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
Producer
Roberto Sessa, Marta Donzelli, Gregorio Paonessa
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
Runtime
1h 46m
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