A powerful story based on true events about a courageous priest, Pino Puglisi, who worked in the south of Italy in the nineties in a region infested with a disease called the Mafia. He knew his life was on the line, but he also knew he had nothing to lose because all that really mattered in life was holiness. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI allowed Don Puglisi to be named a martyr as the first step toward his beatification.

Don Pino comes to his birthplace, the Brancaccio district of Palermo, to serve as a priest. This parish is known as a bastion of the Mafia. It is characterised by various social problems. The local people are under the influence of the mafia and the mafia practically rules here.

Don Pino decides to go against the tide. He realizes that it is very difficult to change the adults who are involved in various crimes, but he puts his hope and efforts in the children who are hanging out on the streets.

He begins to dedicate himself to children and youth. Later, three nuns and eventually a young priest, Gregorio, come to his parish. He plans other social projects aimed at the youth to keep them from going down the path of crime. He strongly attacks the Mafia in his sermons and refuses financial support from the Mafia.

The local mafiosi are increasingly concerned about the influence Don Pino is taking over as he recruits more and more people to his side. They begin to threaten him and forbid young people from coming to his parish.

Pino’s activities cause such difficulties for the mafia in Palermo that the mafia bosses are willing to disrespect the customary inviolability of the priests.

Parents Guide: More times, provocatively dressed women – especially short skirts. Mistreatment of animals. Multiple times fighting. The suicide of a young boy as an expression of resentment against his father who collaborated with the Mafia to murder Don Pino. The murder of Don Pino and also, for example, the glorification of the murder of judges by young Mafia accomplices. More times more subtle swearing. More times smoking, even of children. Drinking in celebration. The events surrounding the murder of Don Pino. The insolent behaviour of the young towards the adults.

Cast: Luca Zingaretti, Corrado Fortuna, Francesco Foti, Alessia Goria

Crew: Roberto Faenza

Italy, 2005

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