Vatican Girl: The Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi

I heard about this case before but I didn't know all that facts, it was very interesting to watch, well filmed, big secrets of Vatican mafia. The only one question- why Emanuela was kidnapped and for what... Terrible 39 years for family to live in that horror. I think that Vatican should reveal the secret of what happened that day and make the family of Emanuela find a peace. Is it possible to have next Pope who will broke the ice and tell the truth to all who follow this case for many years, not only in Italy but in whole world who was shocked to know that in Vatican was kidnapped a child...?

Very long and drawn out but unfortunately is exactly what this poor family have had to endure for most of their lives. One review thought it was one sided but when the Vatican have refused to comment, take part, provide any other facts or show the slightest bit of compassion to this dignified family it can only lead to the obvious conclusion. The church can no longer hide these dreadful crimes and say no comment without defending themselves. This is the real reason populations are deserting the churches. Too much of their abhorrent behaviour has come to light. So many are no longer sheep but some have been lambs unwittingly to a miserable slaughter. They all need justice.

Let's get rid of one aspect upfront: as several reviews remark, the documentary drags a little here and there; could've been 3 episodes maybe? Yes probably.

But - is this really the point?

No, I done think so. This is a tragic story and had to be told; and re-told over and over again.

The documentary has the big merit of laying on the table all the facts and the underlying theories, from the most credible to the obviously fake, behind the Orlandi case in a rather objective and lucid manner.

And while, as expected, the documentary offers no culprit, it leaves the viewer with a well documented certainty: whatever the truth is, there is only one knowing it: the Vatican. And the Vatican keeps hiding it; and this is an insult to the family, to the justice system and to their faithfuls.

Considering the huge cost in terms of reputation damage this is causing to the Vatican, the benefit of doing it must be bigger. So it must be VERY big.

This is an unnerving docuseries. On one side, you have the power of the Church as a monolithic institution; on the other, a family's longstanding plea for justice, accountability and transparency.

The Vatican is not only the seat of Roman Catholicism; it's also an independent city-state with its own head of state who, for all intents and purposes, is a sovereign or autocrat, if you will. Seen against this backdrop, the unexplained disappearance of young Emanuela Orlandi 39 years ago presents to us a great story full of mystery (for many) and angst (for the Orlandi family).

It's a compelling narrative that takes the viewer to different versions of the truth about Emanuela's disappearance none of which is totally conclusive. Journalist Andrea Purgatory and Pietro Orlandi, her older brother, guide us to the different twists that the search for her takes. Here's a family who needs closure but who couldn't have it. The people inside the Vatican who know what happened do not open up even after all these years, and several popes. What kind of humongous secret is the Vatican hiding? What emanates from them is sepulchral silence reminiscent of the Mafia's omerta. The family is stunned when the Pope cryptically tells them that she's in heaven.

The resource persons who grace the series to shed some light into the appearance all agree that the Vatican knows what happened to Emanuela. Will the truth come out? Andrea Purgatori sum it up, thus: no matter how much you try to hide, the truth will always come out.

The docuseries doesn't provide closure but piques our attention and gently reminds us not to forget because Emanuela's case matters.

I've appreciated the courage of the journalists and the reconstruction of this very muddy story.

It is a little bit too kitsch in some passages, but it is very useful and well mounted.

I hope that this will contribute to re-open the case and to give some relief to this very suffering family.

It is not known whether this new media attention will even succeed in reopening the judicial investigation, which had been archived for years: "Difficult - declares Pietro Orlandi - until I find a magistrate who wants to put his finger on and start over to get to understand. So far. There was no one. Someone tried. But then he was excluded from the case. The Vatican suits everyone and everyone suits the Vatican.