Frequent Cannes Film Festival contender and Italian director Marco Bellocchio graced the red carpet in the famed French Riviera city on Tuesday, presenting “Kidnapped,” his eighth bid for the prestigious Palme d’Or.
The narrative of “Kidnapped” is based on the real-life events surrounding Edgardo Mortara, a Jewish 6-year-old boy from Bologna who was forcefully taken by the Catholic Church in 1858. The Church justified the abduction because Mortara required a Catholic education due to his secret baptism as a baby.
The case escalated politically when Mortara’s parents, bolstered by public sentiment and the international Jewish community, opposed the Church. This resistance coincided with the Church’s dwindling power before Italy’s unification.
The renowned American director, Steven Spielberg, had initially shown interest in directing the film but ultimately did not proceed with the project, Bellocchio disclosed in an interview with Variety. He added that he felt the film needed to be made in Italian to maintain authenticity.
The role of young Edgardo is portrayed by Enea Sala, who was discovered after an extensive casting search.
“Working with professional actors allows for character development. However, with children, it’s hit or miss. Sala put a significant amount of effort into his performance, and it paid off beautifully,” Bellocchio shared.
Bellocchio, who first vied for the festival’s grand prize in 1980 with “A Leap in the Dark,” was honoured with the Golden Palme in 2021 to recognize his contributions to the world of cinema.
Last year, Bellocchio introduced another film project centred around abduction, the six-episode series “Exterior Night,” recounting the 1978 kidnapping and murder of former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro.
Despite Spielberg’s initial interest in the story, it seems fitting that an Italian director took the helm of such a culturally significant narrative. With Bellocchio’s reputation and sensitivity towards Italian history, audiences eagerly await to see how “Kidnapped” performs at Cannes and beyond. After his cinematic exploration of the Aldo Moro abduction in “Exterior Night,” it’s clear that Bellocchio isn’t afraid to tackle complex topics, making him a compelling director to watch in the future.
