“A bold, modern retelling of the Passion of the Christ with a powerful social angle” - Cineuropa
The New Gospel
A hybrid Documentary, Germany / Switzerland 2020, 107’
World Sales: Catndocs
What would Jesus preach in the 21st century? Who would his disciples be? And how would today’s bearers of secular and spiritual power respond to the return and provocations of the most influential prophet and social revolutionary in human history? 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. In Matera, in southern Italy, where the great Jesus films from Pasolini to Gibson were shot, an authentically political as well as theatrical and cinematic “New Gospel” emerges for the 21st century. A manifesto of solidarity with the poorest, a revolt for a more just, humane world.
Digital Theatrical Release - 17th of December 2020
For more information please visit the film website.
"Striking cinematography and sound design“ (...) „With The New Gospel, the artist tackles Italy’s ongoing migrant crisis through a most unusual form — by creating a contemporary Jesus film."
Filmmaker Magazine
"In his telling of the life of Christ, the director Milo Rau envisages a champion for the downtrodden. In Italy, seasonal migrant workers fit that bill."
The New York Times
"Milo Rau on Revolutionary Jesus, Empowering People and Fighting Exploitation"
Variety
Conceived, Written & Directed by Milo Rau
Producers – Arne Birkenstock, Olivier Zobrist and Sebastian Lemke
Director of Photography – Thomas Eirich-Schneider
Dramaturgy & Editing – Katja Dringenberg
Dramaturgy & Concept – Eva-Maria Bertschy
Dramaturgy & Assistant Director – Giacomo Bisordi
Set Design & Costumes – Anton Lukas, Ottavia Castellotti
Original Sound – Marco Teufen & Julian Joseph
Sound Editing – Guido Keller, Dieter Lengacher
Songs – Vinicio Capossela
Composer – Elia Rediger
Casting – Eva-Maria Bertschy, Giacomo Bisordi
Production Manager IIPM – Elisa Calosi
Production Accountant Fruitmarket – Kirsten Schauries
Production Manager – Laryssa Stone
Production Assistant – Victoria Herzog
Production Team IIPM – Mascha Euchner-Martinez, Eva-Karen Tittmann, Valentina Bertolino, Riccardo Benedy Raschi
Public Relations – Yven Augustin
A production of Fruitmarket, Langfilm & IIPM – International Institute of Political Murder in coproduction with SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen / SRG SSR, ZDF in cooperation with ARTE in collaboration with Fondazione Matera Basilicata 2019, Consorzio Teatri Uniti di Basilicata and Teatro di Roma supported by Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Bundesamt für Kultur (BAK), Zürcher Filmstiftung, DFFF - Deutscher Filmförderfonds, Kanton St.Gallen Kulturförderung / Swisslos, BKM - Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien, Volkart Stiftung, Suissimage Kulturfonds