Film review: “Rewritten: Maria Goretti”
“We all have scars,” Alex says. “When you hold on to the anger, resentment, it’s like holding onto a hot cup of coffee.”
By Julia Rose
In 1902, three years before the birth of St. Faustina, an 11-year-girl demonstrated an astonishing act of mercy on her deathbed: forgiving the man responsible for attacking her. Less than 50 years later, she became the youngest female to be canonized.
“Rewritten: Maria Goretti,” a new short film produced by Come Home To Rome, is a beautiful tribute to the young saint’s legacy, a modern-day retelling of her story. It is available for viewing free on YouTube. The film is not rated.
How do we forgive?
The film begins with a voiceover. A motivational speaker named Alex (Jason Konopisos-Alvarez) is reflecting on what causes people to do terrible things. As he enters a maximum-security prison, it is clear why: He is speaking with a group of prisoners before they are released, to help them on their transition to civilian life.
As Alex’s talk begins, an important theme becomes clear: How do we forgive others, and how do we forgive ourselves?
“We all have scars,” he says. “When you hold on to the anger, resentment, it’s like holding onto a hot cup of coffee.”
Facing intense scrutiny and pushback from the prisoners, Alex responds, “No one said it was going to be easy.”
“Alex” represents, of course, Alessandro Serenelli, who spent 27 years in prison for the murder of Maria Goretti. He later repented and begged forgiveness from Maria’s mother. He reconciled with the Church and was present at Maria’s canonization in 1950!
Martyrdom
In flashbacks, as Alex tells his story, we meet Maria (Sulem Calderon) and relive the story of her martyrdom as she resists her attacker’s advances.
Through witnessing the compassionate mercy Maria shows toward her attacker, viewers are encouraged to consider one of Alex’s final questions to the prisoners: “You get to decide what happens next. Who do you have to forgive?”
Saint Maria Goretti, pray for us!
To watch “Rewritten: Maria Goretti”, click here.
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