Shades of Truth

A journalist investigates

The main role is played by American actor David Wall. It slips into the shoes of David Milano, an Italo-American journalist of Jewish origin. David is convinced, as many other people, that Pius XII was indifferent to the Jewish problem during World War II. But, after a harsh discussion with Sarah, the woman he wants to marry, he takes conscience that maybe he is wrong. This, added to the fact that his publisher charges him to write an article about the Black Legends of the Catholic Church, and much more to the point with an article about Pius XII, bring him to start an investigation about the life of this Pope.

He starts where all that began, in Rome and the Vatican. With his old friend, Roberto Savinelli, a Catholic priest and kenjutsu champion, played by the German actor Gedeon Burkhard (“Unglorious Basterds” by Quentin Tarantino; “Cobra”; “Commissioner Rex”), David has the opportunity to meet some remarkable clergy members, like the Cardinal Salvemini, played by Christopher Lambert. The Cardinal, who is the postulator for the cause of beatification of Pius XII, helps David through the complicated secrets of the Vatican. He studies documents, meets people and sees old footage about the WWII period and the involvement of Pius XII.

He discovers the story of Israel Zoll, chief rabbi of Rome during the Nazi occupation, who collaborated with Pius XII in the rescue of the Jews. Zoll, at the end of the war, asked to be baptized and took the name Eugenio Zolli, out of admiration toward Pope Pacelli, whose first name was Eugenio. His research for the truth becomes a spiritual research of himself, his convictions and prejudices. He understands that the courage of changing opinion can give sense to his life. Finally he discovers a shocking truth about his family: this will be the last piece of a puzzle that when completed will give him peace and will help him to win back the woman he loves.

A controversial film

So the mystery planes again and opinions continue to differ. In 2009 the debate was revived. Benedict XVI recognized the heroic virtues of Pius XII paving the way for a possible beatification. In 2014, Pope Francis asked the complete opening of the Vatican archives that shed light on this story. The Vatican has published numerous documents highlighting the help that the Church has granted to the Jews. The Jewish Pave the Way Foundation, through its founder Gary Krupp, published a book that brings together numerous testimonies, newspaper articles and lists of documents that demonstrate the enormous work of rescue performed by Pius XII and the Catholic Church in favor of the Jews. “Shades of Truth” is a subject of controversy, like any artistic creation inspired to Pius XII. The film has produced a great curiosity at an international level.

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