Disturbing religion (original title in religioso disagio) is a 2005 short film directed by Massimiliano “Maci” Verdesca, featuring Marcello Zappatore as main actor. The story revolves around an unusual event: a heavy metal guitarist, portrayed by Zappatore himself, is chosen by God to bear the stigmata. This divine mark dramatically disrupts the protagonist’s life, as he struggles with deep loneliness before ultimately accepting the fate assigned to him.
The 18-minute film tackles the theme of the conflict between the sacred and the profane, using irony and tension to depict the protagonist’s personal drama. Shot in color, with cinematography by Fabio Casati, In religioso disagio features a technical team including editors Claudio Bonafede, Andrea Gandolfo, and Simone Bovienzo, as well as set designers Alessio Baskakis and Alessandra Polimeno.
The short film gained international attention, participating in the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2006 in the “Short: As Long As It Takes” section. See also W Zappatore
