The Faculty of Humanities at Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) has launched this year’s UIC Humanities Forum programme with the lecture “A new perspective on catholic cinema: the case of San Paolo Film”, delivered by Sabrina Negri, lecturer and researcher at the University of Turin.

The UIC Humanities Forum is an initiative promoted by the Faculty to create a vibrant space for intellectual exchange, open to the major questions of our time and to the thinkers who have made decisive contributions to the humanities.

During her presentation, Negri outlined the unique history of the Italian production company associated with the Society of St Paul. Through a historical overview, she explained how the company succeeded in establishing its place within the film industry and highlighted the distinctive nature of an organisation that “enjoyed independence from the Vatican from its very beginnings” and that, in the 1950s, was “the only company of its kind in the country, which gave it considerable influence”. 

The role of the Daughters of St Paul

One of the session's most significant themes was the crucial role played by the Daughters of St Paul in the success and development of the production company. "The sisters were deeply involved in the company's editorial activities," Negri noted, recalling that they were "the public face of the project, taking responsibility both for distribution and for producing the catalogues that accompanied the films".

According to the speaker, these catalogues, which included film criticism and reviews, now have “great historical value, as they often diverged from official Catholic doctrine”. One example is their positive review of The Magician by Ingmar Bergman, which they described as “true cinema”, while the Vatican viewed the film with reservations. “In short, they were the key element throughout the entire process, from beginning to end, despite never having received the historical recognition they deserved,” she concluded.

Laura Gandolfi, dean of the Faculty of Humanities, thanked Negri for her contribution, noting that the lecture had offered “a fascinating journey through an equally fascinating cinematic phenomenon”.