The Catholic School, directed by Italian filmmaker Stefano Mordini, is based on the true story of the Circeo massacre that took place on September 29, 1975, in the seaside town of San Felice Circeo, Italy.
The film follows the lives of three privileged young men who attend San Leone Magno high school. They spend their days cruising in fancy sports cars, attending exclusive parties, and getting into trouble with the law. The trio includes Fausto (Alessandro Borghi), Danilo (Max Tortora), and Pino (Silvio Muccino).
One day, the three men lure two teenage girls, Donatella Colasanti (Alice Ventura) and Rosaria Lopez (Jasmine Trinca), to a remote villa where they proceed to torment and sexually assault them. The girls are brutally beaten and eventually killed.
The film then shifts its focus to the investigation and trial that followed the massacre. The police, led by detective Antonino Scopelliti (Luigi Lo Cascio), tirelessly work to uncover the truth behind the heinous crime. They face numerous obstacles, including the boys' powerful families and a society that is quick to judge the victims for their supposed "immoral" behavior.
Through a series of flashbacks, the audience is shown the boys' privileged upbringing and the toxic masculinity that fuels their violence. The film confronts issues such as classism, misogyny, and the corruption within Italian institutions.
The Catholic School is a haunting and thought-provoking film that sheds light on a dark moment in Italian history. It highlights the cultural, social, and political factors that enable such atrocities to occur and the uphill battle faced by those seeking justice.
