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The New Gospel
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The New Gospel
IDFA 2020

The New Gospel

Das neue Evangelium
Milo Rau
Germany, Switzerland, Italy
2020
107 min
International Premiere
Festival history

In the past, both Pier Paolo Pasolini and Mel Gibson filmed the crucifixion of Jesus in the southern Italian city of Matera. In 2019, Matera became the backdrop for a new passion play. This time, Jesus was played by the Cameroonian political activist Yvan Sagnet, who defends the rights of the illegal workers exploited by a mafia-led agricultural system. Many of these workers are refugees from Africa who have nowhere else to go.

The New Gospel is both a live recording of the play, and a glimpse behind the scenes. We see Sagnet grow into his role as Jesus, while in between mobilizing groups of laborers working nearby Matera into a large-scale protest dubbed the “Revolt of Dignity.” And dignity is precisely what this film is aiming towards in its portraits of activists and actors alike.

The Swiss director Milo Rau is also artistic director of the Belgian city theater NTGent. He wants his work to “not only portray the world, but change it.” This project, then, is more than simply a film or a play, because it has led to better housing for the migrants, and the founding of a Fair Trade label for tomatoes.

Credits
Director
Production
    Arne Birkenstock for Fruitmarket Kultur und Medien GmbH,
    Sebastian Lemke for Fruitmarket Kultur und Medien GmbH,
    Olivier Zobrist for Langfilm,
    IIPM – International Institute of Political Murder
    Arne Birkenstock for Fruitmarket Kultur und Medien GmbH,
    Sebastian Lemke for Fruitmarket Kultur und Medien GmbH,
    Olivier Zobrist for Langfilm,
    IIPM – International Institute of Political Murder
Cinematography
    Thomas Eirich-Schneider
    Thomas Eirich-Schneider
Sound
    Marco Teufen,
    Julian Joseph
    Marco Teufen,
    Julian Joseph
Narrator
    Vinicio Capossela
    Vinicio Capossela
Music
    Vinicio Capossela ,
    Elia Rediger,
    Ras Bamba
    Vinicio Capossela ,
    Elia Rediger,
    Ras Bamba
Involved TV Channel
    ZDF/ARTE,
    SRF/SRG SSR
    ZDF/ARTE,
    SRF/SRG SSR
World Sales
    CAT&Docs
    CAT&Docs
Screening copy
    Langfilm
    Langfilm

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