La buona battaglia - Don Pietro Pappagallo
Encyclopedia
La buona battaglia – Don Pietro Pappagallo is an Italian television miniseries based on the true story of Don Pietro Pappagallo
(1888–1944), a Catholic
priest
and Italian anti-fascist
who assisted victims of Nazism
and Fascism
in Rome during World War II
and was arrested and executed in the Ardeatine Caves massacre
on March 24, 1944.
It was produced by 11 Marzo Cinematografica and Rai Fiction
, directed by Gianfranco Albano, written by Stefano Gabrini and Furio Scarpelli
, and stars Flavio Insinna
as Don Pietro. It was first released in 2006 and is distributed by Radiotelevisione Italiana
and RaiTrade
.
, a safe haven from the regime.
In part two, Lidia and Mario fall in love and plan to get married. Oscar betrays Don Pietro. The Nazi SS storm the refuge and arrest Don Pietro and friends. Don Pietro and Gioacchino are among the 335 men executed at the Ardeatine Caves.
The overall message of this film is that Don Pietro could have fled to San Paolo when he had the chance, but, like St. Peter, he came back to help any more people from being deported to the Nazi concentration camps. And like Judas
betraying Jesus
, Oscar betrayed Don Pietro by telling the Nazis where he lived. But Oscar got his rightful punishment when Gioacchino's men found him and threw him off a second floor balcony. Don Pietro Pappagallo should be highly considered for sainthood.
Pietro Pappagallo
Pietro Pappagallo was a Catholic priest and an Italian anti-fascist who assisted victims of Nazism and Fascism in Rome during World War II.-Biography:...
(1888–1944), a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and Italian anti-fascist
Anti-fascism
Anti-fascism is the opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals, such as that of the resistance movements during World War II. The related term antifa derives from Antifaschismus, which is German for anti-fascism; it refers to individuals and groups on the left of the political...
who assisted victims of Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
and Fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
in Rome during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was arrested and executed in the Ardeatine Caves massacre
Ardeatine massacre
The Fosse Ardeatine massacre was a mass execution carried out in Rome on 24 March 1944 by German occupation troops during the Second World War as a reprisal for a partisan attack conducted on the previous day in central Rome....
on March 24, 1944.
It was produced by 11 Marzo Cinematografica and Rai Fiction
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
, directed by Gianfranco Albano, written by Stefano Gabrini and Furio Scarpelli
Furio Scarpelli
Furio Scarpelli , also called Scarpelli, was an Italian screenwriter, famous for his collaboration on numerous Commedia all'italiana films with Agenore Incrocci, forming the duo Age & Scarpelli....
, and stars Flavio Insinna
Flavio Insinna
Flavio Insinna is an Italian actor and television presenter. From 2006 - 2008 he presented Affari Tuoi, the Italian version of Deal or No Deal.-Biography:Flavio was born in Rome...
as Don Pietro. It was first released in 2006 and is distributed by Radiotelevisione Italiana
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
and RaiTrade
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
.
Plot
In part one, Don Pietro (Flavio Insinna) gives refuge from the Nazis to Lidia (Ana Caterina Morariu) and Mario (Paolo Briguglia). We meet Teresa (Paola Tiziana Cruciani), Don Pietro’s no-nonsense housekeeper; Gioacchino (Ignazio Oliva), a professor, former pupil, and good friend of Don Pietro's; and Oscar (Max Mazzotta), a transient visitor. Don Pietro accompanies a Jewish physician and young mother to San PaoloBasilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
The Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls , commonly known as St Paul's Outside the Walls, is one of four churches that are the great ancient major basilicas or papal basilicas of Rome: the basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Peter's and Saint Paul Outside the Walls...
, a safe haven from the regime.
In part two, Lidia and Mario fall in love and plan to get married. Oscar betrays Don Pietro. The Nazi SS storm the refuge and arrest Don Pietro and friends. Don Pietro and Gioacchino are among the 335 men executed at the Ardeatine Caves.
The overall message of this film is that Don Pietro could have fled to San Paolo when he had the chance, but, like St. Peter, he came back to help any more people from being deported to the Nazi concentration camps. And like Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
betraying Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, Oscar betrayed Don Pietro by telling the Nazis where he lived. But Oscar got his rightful punishment when Gioacchino's men found him and threw him off a second floor balcony. Don Pietro Pappagallo should be highly considered for sainthood.