Paolo Zucca's 'Vangelo Secondo Maria' reimagines Mary's story in Sardinia

Director Paolo Zucca's film 'Vangelo Secondo Maria,' based on Barbara Alberti's novel, presents a feminist retelling of Mary of Nazareth's life, shot entirely in Sardinia. The film follows a young Mary (Benedetta Porcaroli) who dreams of freedom and knowledge but is constrained by her gender. She finds a mentor and accomplice in Joseph (Alessandro Gassmann), and their love story unfolds against the island's archaeological landscapes. Zucca describes the film as 'proudly and profoundly feminist,' focusing on Mary's struggle for autonomy. The project began in 2009 after Alberti saw Zucca's short film 'L'Arbitro' and recognized a biblical quality in Sardinia's landscapes and faces. Zucca emphasizes the originality of the story and the universal power of Mary and Joseph's relationship. The film has sparked reactions, including controversy over the use of 'Palestine' at a San Francisco screening, where a viewer insisted on 'Holy Land' instead. Zucca notes that many Catholics who have seen the film understand it is not blasphemous; a nun teaching Mariology at a pontifical university praised it for addressing enduring questions about Mary. Zucca credits Corrado Augias's books and José Saramago's 'The Gospel According to Jesus Christ' for deepening his understanding of the Gospels.