Gospel According to Mary
A young Mary of Nazareth––forbidden to read but filled with wonder—befriends her teacher Joseph. As their bond deepens into love, her destiny is upended by a divine annunciation that challenges both their future and free will.
DIRECTOR
Paolo Zucca
actors
1h 38m • Rated TBC • Drama • Italy (2023)
Benedetta Porcaroli • Alessandro Gassmann • Emma Benini
Reviewers note that Zucca’s tone balances reverence with modern insight. The film’s deliberate pacing, warm cinematography, and gentle humour give it a meditative quality reminiscent of Pasolini or Rohrwacher, while its feminist perspective feels distinctively contemporary. Some critics suggest its bold theological liberties may divide audiences, yet most agree it’s a sincere and visually luminous work that invites reflection rather than controversy—a deeply human vision of faith, courage, and love.
CRITICS ROUNDUP
Bold, intimate, and quietly radical
Critics describe The Gospel According to Mary as a daring, poetic retelling of one of Christianity’s most familiar stories, reframed through the eyes of a spirited young woman awakening to faith, love, and independence. Paolo Zucca directs with a painter’s precision and a poet’s curiosity, finding beauty in quiet gestures and the windswept landscapes of Galilee. Benedetta Porcaroli’s performance has been widely praised for its emotional intelligence—her Mary is neither saintly nor rebellious caricature, but a human being searching for meaning within the confines of her world.