The Catholic School

Behind the Scenes of The Catholic School (2021): Netflix’s Dark Drama and Its Real-Life Roots

Stefano Mordini’s The Catholic School (2021) arrived on Netflix with a reputation for unsettling realism, but the film’s journey from page to screen is almost as dramatic as its subject matter. Based on Edoardo Albinati’s controversial 2016 novel La Scuola Cattolica, the movie revisits a chilling true crime that rocked 1970s Rome—and the elite Catholic school at its center. Here’s what we know about the making of this provocative drama.

From Scandal to Screen: The True Story That Inspired the Film

The Catholic School fictionalizes the 1975 Circeo massacre, a brutal crime involving wealthy young men from Rome’s prestigious San Leone Magno school. The novel—and later the film—explores how privilege, toxic masculinity, and institutional complicity fueled violence. While the movie takes creative liberties, its core events mirror real-life horrors: two teenage girls were kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by a group of former classmates, one of whom was the son of a prominent industrialist.

The film’s unflinching portrayal of class and misogyny sparked debate even before its release. Benedetta Porcaroli, who plays one of the film’s central female characters, called it a "necessary film" during its Venice Film Festival premiere, arguing that its themes remain urgent ^[8]. Yet the adaptation’s fidelity to the novel’s most disturbing details—including graphic depictions of violence—has divided critics. Some praise its boldness ^[6], while others question whether the film risks sensationalism ^[2].

Casting Controversy and On-Set Tensions

The young ensemble cast—led by Porcaroli, Giulio Pranno, and Federica Torchetti—delivered raw performances, but rumors swirled about the emotional toll of the material. Sources suggest Mordini, known for his intense directorial style , pushed actors to confront uncomfortable truths about power and complicity. One YouTube breakdown claims the cast underwent "psychological preparation" to handle the film’s dark themes, though no official confirmation exists ^[6].

Off-screen, the production faced scrutiny over its handling of sensitive subject matter. The real-life victims’ families have long criticized media portrayals of the Circeo massacre, and while The Catholic School avoids naming actual perpetrators, its fictionalized approach drew comparisons to true-crime exploitation. Netflix’s involvement—marketed with trailers emphasizing the film’s "shocking" nature ^[5][10]—fueled further debate about whether the platform prioritized drama over nuance.

A Director’s Vision: Mordini’s Gamble

Stefano Mordini, a veteran of Italian cinema with a background in documentaries ^[4], took a risk adapting Albinati’s dense, 1,200-page novel. The book’s nonlinear structure and philosophical digressions were streamlined into a 106-minute thriller, but Mordini retained its critique of institutional hypocrisy. Reviews note the film’s "claustrophobic" tension, with some praising its visual storytelling , while others argue it struggles to balance character depth with its broader social commentary ^[7].

The director’s own ties to Italy’s elite—he was born in Tuscany and has worked with high-profile actors—added another layer of intrigue. Was The Catholic School a personal reckoning with privilege? Mordini has stayed tight-lipped, but his past work (Pericle il Nero, The Invisible Thread) suggests a fascination with moral ambiguity ^[4]. For this project, he reportedly insisted on shooting in Rome’s affluent Parioli district, where the real-life crimes occurred, to heighten the film’s authenticity.

Reception and Backlash: Did Netflix Get It Right?

Upon release, The Catholic School polarized audiences. SensCritique users rated it 4.6/10, with some calling it "a missed opportunity" for its uneven pacing ^[3]. Others, however, lauded its unflinching gaze at systemic violence, particularly against women ^[8]. The film’s Netflix rollout—complete with a trailer that leaned into its "true crime" appeal ^[5]—drew criticism for potentially trivializing the real-life tragedy.

Behind the scenes, the debate continues. Was the film a necessary exposé or an exploitative spectacle? The answer likely lies somewhere in between. What’s clear is that The Catholic School refuses to let its audience look away—whether from the screen or the uncomfortable truths it reflects.