The story of salvation is told from the perspective of the Roman governor in Judea, Pontius Pilate.
Acting
Nino Manfredi's exasperated everyman Pilate is genuinely hilarious.
Writing
Magni's script finds cosmic absurdity in provincial Roman admin.
Costume
Toga-era production design that's deliciously un-Hollywood.
Director
Luigi Magni
Nino Manfredi
Ponzio Pilato
Stefania Sandrelli
Claudia
Mario Scaccia
Imperatore Tiberio
Flavio Bucci
Erode Antipa
Lando Buzzanca
Valeriano
Antonio Pierfederici
Giuseppe di Arimatea
Relja Bašić
Sacerdote Anna
Cosimo Cinieri
Caifa
Roberto Herlitzka
Barabba
Luisa De Santis
Estherina
Sergio Nicolai
Primo legionario
Ricky Tognazzi
Secondo Legionario
Nini Salerno
Legionario
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Magni was a communist filmmaker; this Pilate as hapless bureaucrat reflects 1970s Italian political cynicism toward institutional power.
Despite the 1988 release, Magni shot most footage in 1975—studio interference delayed completion for over a decade.
IT
