Directed by Stefano Mordini, La Scuola Cattolica (The Catholic School) is a 106-minute Italian drama that attempts to reconstruct the psychological and social origins of one of Italy's most notorious crimes: the 1975 Circeo massacre. Based on the Strega Prize-winning semi-autobiographical novel by Edoardo Albinati, the film serves as a bleak exploration of toxic masculinity, class privilege, and the failure of traditional institutions. A Foundation of Repression
The film is set in an elite, all-male Catholic high school in Rome during the "Years of Lead," a period marked by intense political and social turmoil. The story is narrated by Edoardo (Emanuele Maria Di Stefano), a student at the prestigious San Leone Magno who observes his peers from the fringes. La scuola cattolica 2021 - 106 min Dramma
The Unmasking of Privilege: A Look at "La Scuola Cattolica" (2021) Directed by Stefano Mordini, La Scuola Cattolica (The
Critics have noted that the film's sudden shift from a social study to "unflinchingly ghoulish true-crime" can be jarring. While the first two-thirds build a "cultivation broth" of the killers' environment, the final act is an intense and upsetting portrayal of their cruelty. Critical Reception and Themes The story is narrated by Edoardo (Emanuele Maria