Il Doge: A Portrait of Redemption
Feature documentary

Synopsis

Giampaolo Manca, once a notorious boss of Venice's Mala del Brenta gang, began his criminal career at just 17 with the daring theft of Bellini and Vivarini’s paintings from the Santi Giovanni and Paolo church, the burial site of Venice’s Doges. The audacity of this act earned him the nickname “Il Doge” and established his reputation among Venice's underworld.

Giampaolo’s rebellion was rooted in a childhood marked by his father’s abuse, which he endured alongside his twin brother, Fabio. His rise in the criminal hierarchy accelerated after the police killed his closest friend and accomplice, Silvano Maistrello, the bandit famously known as Kociss. Determined to honor his friend’s legacy, Giampaolo forged his own path as a feared and respected leader.

Over the course of his life, Giampaolo spent nearly four decades in prison, including twelve harrowing years in solitary confinement. While imprisoned, he made a solemn promise to God: if Fabio survived cancer, he would leave his life of crime behind. Now a free man, Giampaolo works tirelessly to help those in need, but he remains haunted by his past, grappling with the question of whether redemption—and self-forgiveness—is truly within his grasp.

“This documentary comes to a point and leads you to discover, perhaps for the first time, what the existence of a criminal really is.” -Cosimo Curatola, Journalist Mow Mag

A film by Gianna Isabella Magliocco
The life story of Giampaolo Manca AKA ‘Il Doge’
Executive Producer: James Mahoney | Cinematography: Daniel Everitt-Lock
Music: Thilo Schaller | Sound: Joel Varjassy

Director’s Statement

I want this documentary to leave the audience rooted in their seats, reflecting on the story and grappling with the question: 'Is a man more than his mistakes?' Through this intimate portrait, I explore the complexities of human nature and the enduring struggle for redemption.

Visually, the story unfolds in a free-flowing, improvisational style, following the main subject through his daily life in a fly-on-the-wall approach. Contrasting this are moments of stillness—fine-art compositions that reveal the subject’s duality. The decision to film in black and white is both bold and essential. It strips away distractions, offering an unfiltered look at the subject while evoking the timeless character of Venice, which plays a pivotal role in the documentary.

Rooted in the tradition of Italian Neo-Realism, the documentary emphasizes raw, authentic storytelling, but with a modern twist. The Italian language, interwoven with the Venetian dialect, reflects the subject’s cultural identity and familial connections, staying true to his story and traditions.

As an artist, I am driven to explore the extremes of human nature—its beauty, its flaws, and its potential for transformation. This film is a meditation on whether a man can be more than his past, his actions, and his crimes. It is a question I pose not only to the audience but to myself.

“The documentary flows between re-enactments, even in detail, of criminal exploits that Edgar Allen Poe would have willingly recounted, and episodes of profound humanity.” -Ferruccio Gard, Artist & Venice Golden Lion Winner

For more information, please contact: gianna@gate67.ca