Summaries

Synopsis

Seven years ago, Pope Francis denounced the "globalization of indifference" inLampedusa and said that "this system of capitalism kills." The moment Italycriminalizes the rescue of people who are drowning, the Catholic Church returns to itssocio-revolutionary roots: what does the Bible really ask of us? What was meant bythe radical "no" by the Christian prophet when confronted with the system of Romanimperialism and exploitation? Who would Jesus fight for today - and who would befighting at his side?In Italy, at the southern edge of the EU, where African refugees are forced intolabor as harvesters, where peasants are fighting for survival due to increasing grainimports, Milo Rau creates THE NEW GOSPEL - a hybrid film dealing with the life anddeath of probably the most influential religious founder in world history. Who are thedisplaced people, the outcasts, the humiliated ones of today's world order? What isleft of Jesus' message of salvation in times of global exploitation?In THE NEW GOSPEL, Milo Rau and the political activist Yvan Sagnet togethercreate a biblical narrative that couldn't be more topical, considering the refugee crisisin Europe and the worldwide Black Lives Matter movement.Political activist and Jesus performer Yvan Sagnet himself worked on a tomato farmwhen in 2011, he revolted against the system of exploitation and led the first farmworkers' strike in southern Italy. Just like Jesus sought his group of apostles as a"fisher of men", Yvan returns to the largest of the refugee camps, currently called"ghettos" in Italy. Among the refugees and migrants stranded in the barren landscapeand those who hire themselves out on the tomato and orange plantations, Yvan findshis "disciples". Together, they lead the "Revolt of Dignity": a struggle for the rights ofthe people disenfranchised by the current Italian government and EU migrationpolicies - over 500,000 people in Italy alone. They are joined by small farmers andactivists driven into bankruptcy by major agricultural corporations, as well as actorsfrom the films of Pasolini and Mel Gibson. Enrique Irazoqui, who played the legendaryrole of Jesus in the Pasolini film, takes on the role of John the Baptist in Rau's versionof the "Gospel"; Maia Morgenstern, Mel Gibson's Saint Mary, plays the mother of theblack savior Sagnet. And critically acclaimed actor Marcello Fonte (Best Actor AwardCannes 2018) plays Pontius Pilate.Christians, Muslims, Jews, atheists, refugees and Europeans fight side by side forthe right of all people to live in legality, self-determination and freedom of movement.They call on all citizens of Europe to solidarize with them and to express theirresentment and resistance against Europe's inhumane refugee policy. What is left ofthe values of Enlightenment and Christianity in the realpolitik of the EU? How cancontemporary Europe even be reconciled with "occidental" values? Even if, or preciselybecause they are fighting against the Italian government and the large corporations,the followers of the new movement - like Jesus' disciples at the time -"did not cometo destroy the law, but to fulfill it." For where injustice becomes law, resistancebecomes duty!While the message of the "Rivolta della Dignità", an emancipatory movement ofthe lawless spreads, the great performance is organized: the main venue is the smalltown of Matera in the middle of the southern Basilicata, where the Jesus films by PierPaolo Pasolini ("The Gospel according to St. Matthew") and Mel Gibson ("The Passionof the Christ") were filmed. Right here in this film historical setting, Jesus enters thecity, he gets tortured, crucified and, once again, will be resurrected. This occurredunder the eyes of thousands of cultural tourists which Matera attracted from all overthe world as the European Capital of Culture 2019. The Christian myth and thetouristic reality of Europe clash in a mystery play about poverty, faith and dignity.