The third installment of Esterno Notte shifts the series’ lens from the political machinery of the Italian state to the spiritual and personal anguish of the Vatican. By focusing on Pope Paul VI, Marco Bellocchio explores the intersection of faith, political pragmatism, and the "unfathomable melancholy" of a failure that was both personal and national. 1. The Perspective of the Holy See
A central conflict in the episode is the Vatican's attempt to intervene. Historical accounts—and Bellocchio's dramatization—suggest that the Pope attempted to assemble a massive ransom to secure Moro's release. However, this effort was ultimately thwarted by the state’s refusal to finance or recognize terrorism. The episode culminates in the Pope’s famous public appeal on April 22, where he asked the Red Brigades to release Moro "simply, without conditions"—a plea that Moro’s wife, Eleonora, tragically interpreted as a surrender by the Church. 3. Themes of Betrayal and Martyrdom Esterno.Notte.2022.iTA.AC3.WebRip.x264.S01.E03-...
Essay: The Divine Dilemma in Marco Bellocchio's Esterno Notte The third installment of Esterno Notte shifts the