The art of a man of God

In the history of humanity there have been few men who, after being consecrated to God, have become great artists: Andrej Rublëv, Leon Battista Alberti, Caldéron de la Barca, Antonio Vivaldi. Tito is the latest of these great artists.

Father Tito Amodei was a sculptor and painter of prodigious expressive power. 1953, breaking the strict rules of the Passionist religious order, his superiors allowed Tito to attend the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. It was a scandal. In his long career, he created large and small works, ranging from the figurative to the abstract, from nude art to religious themes; as the permanent bronze Via Crucis placed inside the stones of Matera. He regularly held exhibitions and major museums around the world host his pieces. His studio is in Rome, at the convent of the Passionists of the Holy Stairs in San Giovanni in Laterano square. Tito died at the age of 91 on the 31st of January 2018.

Tito did not hesitate to criticize: “Kitsch pervades the Church! It's a disaster! True heresy! The Mother of God has been turned into tiny figurines. It’s blasphemy. We sold religious icons out. Compare them to the medieval paintings of Cimabue and Giotto, their Virgin Mary and their Crucifix. I blame the Church for irresponsibly filling churches with these inane images”.

The documentary explores Tito’s extraordinary life. It delves into his work process and his profound reflections on art as expression, on art as a profession, and on the relationship between art and the Catholic church.

The film was the result of much work. Filming lasted over two years. Archival research, carried out together with the artist, was also essential; among his countless creations, the ones featured in the film were chosen with extreme care. Several scenes are intended to draw attention to some of Tito’s most impressive works, both religious and secular, originating from all over Italy.