Dio ride: Giovanni Veronesi film explores religious repression

The film Dio ride, directed by Giovanni Veronesi, is a period piece set in the 17th-century Umbria-Tuscany countryside. The story follows Frate Leopoldo da Casamacchia, an illiterate but charismatic orphan raised in the Scheggino convent, who preaches the Gospel through humor, anecdotes, and a popular style that resonates with the peasantry.

His unconventional approach and popularity lead the Inquisition to accuse him of heresy. While the film uses a fictional protagonist, the director reportedly drew inspiration from historical figures like San Filippo Neri and consulted Vatican archives to explore the tension between authentic spirituality and institutional religious power.

The production features Pierfrancesco Favino as Leopoldo and Silvio Orlando as an inquisitor. The film is noted for its immersive cinematography, utilizing locations such as the Valle del Diavolo and the Badia Camaldolese di Volterra to reconstruct the historical setting.