I think I broke my brain. Jesus returns to Earth and encounters all the modern day problems in a very Italian attempt at a parody of Jesus Christ Superstar. Only you've got the Mafia instead of the Roman Empire.

I have to admit however that I watched the film in Italian without the aid of subtitles, so with my limited command of Italian I think I got the gist of things, up to a point. I also think I managed to avoid hearing a lot of bad jokes because the comedy in this film is terrible. 

The plot as such seems to feature Jesus leaving an insane asylum which appears to be in heaven because the next thing we see is Jesus coming out of the sea and immediately appearing in the office of Lattuga, right in the middle of being robbed by the Mafia. One lecture about how these bad deeds will come back to haunt them when they are old and end up in hell (my interpretation), Lattuga sings a song about how working and material goods are crap, then falls head over heels in love with Jesus while he's off being taunted by a guy whom I think was supposed to be the devil.

Jesus tells Lattuga that he can have no physical relationship but then (I think) his dad, God, tells him to go for it! Good old God. Jesus hooks up with Lattuga and eventually starts gathering more followers, in between times encountering a fake priest, and the modern problem of drug abuse (where Satan tempts him with a spiky haired ballerina who keeps turning into a giant syringe! There's also two sub plots involving the Mafia not liking Jesus changing people's ways (they get to sing their own song about being in the Mafia) and Lattuga's father, who is a cop after Mafia who keeps being injured and has lots of dumb sidekicks. There's a lot of slapstick in this film by the way, and it is painful to watch.

I have no idea why there were two nuns with machine guns whom Jesus then converted into two singing sidekicks, nor am i particular sure what happened to Jesus at the end when he got arrested, but in saying that some of the songs were quite good! Not the one Lattuga and Jesus sing in the car, though. Or the Mafia one. The theme tune was good. 

For the first time ever when watching these films, I had the distinct, lonely thought that there was no doubt whatsoever that I was the only person in the world, and by extension the universe, who was watching White Pop Jesus last night. That's creepy. 

What Would White Pop Jesus Do?

Italian cinema has deeply influenced world cinema through its socially conscious realism and modernist experimentation, but it also flourished in popular genres like peplum (sword & sandal), giallo thrillers, and broad comedies. Its narratives often weave together politics, contemporary social change, class consciousness, and family dynamics, balancing artistic ambition with entertainment that resonated widely.

Lamberto Maggiorani in Bicycle Thieves (1948)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The musical genre features stories that combine music, singing, dancing, acting, and often spoken dialogue to tell a story or convey a narrative. Musicals incorporate various elements of drama, music, and choreography to create a cohesive theatrical experience that engages audiences on multiple levels.

Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)

Disco Jesus comes back to Earth and takes on the Mafia.

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White Pop Jesus

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