Mater dei (1950 film)

Mater dei is a 1950 Italian religious drama film directed by Emilio Cordero. The film portrays the life and struggles of a young girl, Maria, whose unwavering faith in the Virgin Mary sustains her through difficult circumstances. The narrative focuses on themes of poverty, devotion, and the perceived power of prayer. The film utilizes a neorealist aesthetic, depicting post-war Italian society and its hardships with a focus on the lives of ordinary people. Mater dei received limited international distribution and is primarily known within Italian film history for its religious subject matter and its place within the wider context of Italian neorealism and Catholic-themed cinema.