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Poster for Kidnapped

Kidnapped

Seen it?

2023 | 134 min | Drama, History

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it drew serious awards attention, despite a box office loss. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for history buffs. If you loved A Perfect World or Spotlight, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 14 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

The story of Edgardo Mortara, a young Jewish boy living in Bologna, Italy, who in 1858, after being secretly baptized, was forcibly taken from his family to be raised as a Christian. His parents’ struggle to free their son became part of a larger political battle that pitted the papacy against forces of democracy and Italian unification.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.3 out of 10

  • AwardsStrong

    Nominated for 1 Cannes award.

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $4 million worldwide on a $14 million budget

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 28K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Marco Bellocchio

  • Enea SalaEdgardo Mortara (child)
  • Leonardo MalteseEdgardo Mortara
  • Paolo PierobonPio IX
  • Fausto Russo AlesiMomolo Mortara
  • Barbara RonchiMarianna Mortara
  • Andrea GherpelliAngelo Padovani
  • Samuele TeneggiRiccardo Mortara
  • Corrado InvernizziGiudice Carboni
  • Filippo TimiGiacomo Antonelli
  • Fabrizio GifuniPier Gaetano Feletti