What would Jesus preach in the 21st century? Who would his disciples be? And how would today’s society react to the return of the Son of God? When Matera, in Southern Italy, was chosen as the cultural capital of Europe in 2019, Milo Rau, theatre director was asked to make a piece about the town. For Pier Paolo Pasolini, as well as for Mel Gibson, the town served as the background for the adaptation of Jesus’ crucifixion. This inspired Milo Rau to use Matera again as the background for an adaptation of the passion narrative. This time, Jesus is portrayed by Yvan Sagnet, a Cameroonian political activist who fights for the rights of illegal workers in the area who work as farmers and growers. He preaches a ‘revolution of dignity’ and wants the drastic betterment of the abominable conditions of these modern slaves.
'The New Gospel' is a recording of Milo Rau’s (artistic director of NTGent) preparations for the theatre piece, as well as a look behind the scenes of the social struggle captivating the town. Christian mythology, European tourism, capitalism and exploitation clash in this film about poverty, struggle, faith, and the right of dignity. What are the Christian values worth these days in Europe? For whom would Jesus fight?
