ARTE documentary examines the history of the Inquisition

A new two-part documentary by ARTE, titled ‘The Inquisition’, explores the historical dark chapter of the religious surveillance system established by Pope Gregory IX in 1231. The film examines how the papal decree allowed bishops and religious orders to monitor and punish those perceived as deviating from church doctrine, often through the use of torture to extract confessions.

The documentary highlights the rise of denunciation, a phenomenon that the film draws parallels to later historical periods such as Stalinism and the Nazi era. Featuring actor Denis Lavant as a grimly portrayed inquisitor, the production utilizes various methods, including modern cinematic inserts, to illustrate the regional differences and the diverse, often brutal, forms of the Inquisition.