Based on the unbelievable true story of how a six-year-old Jewish boy, Edgardo Mortara, was taken by the Catholic Church following claims that he was baptized by the family’s maid as a baby. While his distraught family fight to get him back, they find themselves at the epicentre of a historical battle between Catholic authoritarianism and a growing opposition movement.

Palme d’Or-winning director Marco Bellocchio creates a gripping portrait of a small Jewish community in turmoil, at the mercy of a hostile and all-powerful theocracy. Awash with nods to the masterworks of Caravaggio and Delacroix, the film uses light and shadow to convey the drama of the events — whether Edgardo’s inner turmoil or the country’s momentous unrest.