The New Gospel

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The New Gospel (Das Neue Evangelium)

original title:

Das Neue Evangelium

directed by:

cast:

Yvan Sagnet, Maia Morgenstern, Enrique Irazoqui, Marcello Fonte

screenplay:

editing:

Katja Dringenberg

costume design:

Ottavia Castellotti, Anton Lukas

music:

Vinicio Capossela, Elia Rediger

producer:

Arne Birkenstock, Olivier Zobrist, Sebastian Lemke

production:

Fruitmarket Arts & Media, Fondazione Matera Basilicata 2019, Langfilm, IIPM - International Institute of Political Murder, SRF, SRG, SSR, ZDF / ARTE

country:

Germany/Switzerland/Italy

year:

2020

film run:

107'

format:

colour

status:

Ready (23/07/2020)

festivals & awards:

What would Jesus preach in the 21st century? Who would his disciples be? And how would today's society respond to the return of the Son of God? With The New Gospel, Milo Rau is staging a "Revolt of Dignity". Led by political activist Yvan Sagnet, the movement is fighting for the rights of migrants who came to Europe across the Mediterranean to be enslaved on the tomato fields in southern Italy and to live in ghettos under inhumane conditions. The director and his team return to the origins of the gospel and stage it as a passion play of an entire civilization.

DIRECTOR'S NOTES:
When I was invited by Matera Foundation to do a project, I had immediately a concept in mind: a new Jesus film, mixing the strong cinematographic tradition of the region with its modern reality. What an irony, that Matera, the European Capital of Culture and "Jerusalem" of world cinema is surrounded by refugee camps? What would make more sense than shooting a political Jesus movie here, mixing biblical iconography and real revolt? A gospel for the 21st century, a manifesto for the victims of the so-called "free economy", of which Pope Francis himself said: "This economy kills."