The scene is the Pontine Marshes, a disease-ridden region. The year is 1902. Maria Goretti, a twelve-year-old girl, lives with her parents, poor farm hands, in the house of Serenelli, a heavy drinker who has offered them board and lodging. The farmer has a son, Alessandro, aged eighteen, who is sexually attracted to the pious girl. Maria resists his advances. One day the young man can't help it anymore: he rapes Maria before murdering her. Before she dies, Maria forgives her assailant. After her death she is canonized as a saint.
Directed byAugusto Genina
Written bySuso Cecchi D'Amico (screenplay), Augusto Genina (adaptation), Elvira Psorulla (story), Fausto Tozzi (screenplay)
CountryItaly
Runtime111 min
On screen
Rubi D'Alma
Michele Malaspina
Domenico Viglione Borghese
Ines Orsini