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.

Starring:

Rubi D'Alma, Michele Malaspina, Domenico Viglione Borghese, Ines Orsini, Assunta Radico, Giovanni Martella, Mauro Matteucci, Francesco Tomalillo, María Luisa Landín, Ida Paoloni, Federico Meloni, Jole Savoretti, Giovanni Sestili, Vincenzo Solfiotti

Genre:

Drama