What Is The Little Devil About?
The premise of The Little Devil in 262 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the heart of Rome, the North American Pontifical College stands as a sanctuary of ancient rites and disciplined study, its stone corridors echoing with whispered prayers and the rustle of scholarly debate. Within this reverent enclave, daily life is marked by a rhythm of liturgy, lectures, and the quiet camaraderie of men devoted to the Church. Yet beneath the solemn veneer, the college hums with the subtle pressures of modern expectations, where personal doubts mingle with the weight of tradition.
Father Maurice moves through this world with the poise of a seasoned cleric, his every action guided by a blend of faith and duty. Outside the chapel, his heart is tugged in another direction by Patricia, a woman whose affection challenges the boundaries of his vows and adds an intimate tension to his otherwise orderly existence. When a frantic novice arrives with an urgent call—a summons that promises nothing short of a test of his spiritual resolve—Maurice is thrust from contemplation into the throes of an ancient battle.
The crisis brings him face‑to‑face with a mischievous presence that takes the shape of a charismatic, fun‑loving man named Giuditta. This little devil, fresh from escape, refuses to retreat into the shadows, instead trailing the priest like an impish shadow and turning ordinary moments into uncanny episodes of chaos and humor. As the demon’s playful malevolence seeps into Maurice’s routine, the priest finds his carefully calibrated life tipped on its axis, forcing him to confront the delicate balance between solemn devotion and the unpredictable allure of a world that refuses to stay still.
What Happens in The Little Devil?
The complete story of The Little Devil, from the first scene to the last, in 434 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
In the North American Pontifical College in Rome, Father Maurice [Walter Matthau] is in deep turmoil over Patrizia [Stefania Sandrelli], a woman who loves him and keeps pressing him to decide where his heart and vocation should lead him. As he wrestles with the pull of personal feeling and the responsibilities of the priesthood, a coming emergency pulls him away from his inner conflict and into a larger test of faith and duty.
During a tense moment of duty, a novice summons him for an urgent matter: an overweight woman is possessed by a demon. [Father Maurice] takes up the rite with careful seriousness, guiding the exorcism that drives the demon from the woman’s body. The ritual is performed with solemnity, a stark contrast to the chaos that often accompanies such cases in experience and tradition. Yet the victory is only the beginning of a far more unusual challenge.
The demon, an escaped little devil named Giuditta [Roberto Benigni], refuses to return to wherever it came from and immediately begins to shadow Father Maurice. Giuditta’s mischief is playful at first, but it rapidly becomes disruptive, continually testing Maurice’s patience and proving that the line between holy duty and comic chaos is thinner than it appears. Each encounter with the demon pulls Maurice deeper into a bizarre cat-and-mouse game, where the line between sanctity and farce blurs in unpredictable ways.
Maurice’s efforts to rid himself of Giuditta repeatedly fail, and the situation escalates. In one memorable moment, Giuditta actually replaces an ailing Father Maurice at Mass, turning a solemn liturgy into what many observers describe as a fashion parade. The sight jolts the college community and leaves Maurice exhausted, facing the limits of his endurance as a spiritual leader and as a man trying to quiet a restless heart.
Recognizing his mounting weariness, Maurice’s peers urge him to take a break, to step back from the pressures of the cycle of exorcisms and duties that have consumed him. The suggestion of a vacation offers a pause, a chance to regain balance and perspective away from the relentless attention of the supernatural and the emotional entanglements that accompany it.
In time, a new presence emerges—an agent from the same place as Giuditta—who manages to draw the demon’s attention away from Maurice. Giuditta is eventually persuaded to depart, choosing to follow her path elsewhere rather than continue to linger at the side of the weary priest. The story thus tracks a remarkable journey from spiritual conflict to a bittersweet resolution, underscoring themes of vocation, temptation, and the limits of human endurance in the face of otherworldly interference.
The Little Devil Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Patricia's love puts Maurice's future in question” to “Patricia's ongoing expectation”. 12 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Patricia's love puts Maurice's future in question
Patricia loves Father Maurice and expects him to make a clear decision about their future together. Maurice wrestles with his vow and the possibility of romance, unsure how it fits with his vocation. The emotional tension quietly sets the tone at the North American Pontifical College in Rome as he weighs love against duty.
When:Beginning of the story Where:North American Pontifical College, Rome
- 2
A novice's emergency summons
A novice urgently seeks Father Maurice's help for an overweight woman possessed by a demon. He answers the call and goes to the room of the possessed to perform the rite. The urgent crisis tests his resolve and starts the series of supernatural events.
When:Shortly after the initial turmoil Where:North American Pontifical College, Rome
- 3
Exorcism and the demon expulsion
During the exorcism, Father Maurice confronts Giuditta as the demon resists. He finally expels the demon from the woman's body, restoring her sense of peace. The demon's departure, however, marks the beginning of Maurice's new torment as Giuditta refuses to stay silent.
When:During the exorcism Where:The possessed woman's room
- 4
Giuditta begins tailing Maurice
Giuditta begins to follow Maurice everywhere, watching his every move. She uses mischief to nudge him off balance, sometimes in playful ways, sometimes in troubling ones. Maurice soon finds his routines disrupted by an unseen, impish presence.
When:Immediately after the exorcism Where:Around Rome
- 5
Mischief that disrupts Maurice's life
The demon's mischief intrudes on Maurice's daily life, occasionally making small problems seem like crises. Sometimes her actions are innocent, but they still pull Maurice into trouble with colleagues and parishioners. The line between miracle and nuisance grows increasingly thin.
When:In the days following the exorcism Where:Various locations in Rome
- 6
Mass turns into a fashion parade
During a Mass, Giuditta replaces Maurice, turning the solemn ceremony into a fashion parade. The sacred rite is played for laughs and spectacle, leaving the congregation stunned and uncomfortable. The incident marks a peak in Maurice's sense of failure to control the situation.
When:During Mass Where:Church during Mass
- 7
Exhaustion prompts concern among peers
Maurice's physical and spiritual exhaustion becomes evident to those around him. His peers and superiors notice the toll the supernatural interference has taken on him. They begin to advise him to rest and regain his balance.
When:After the Mass incident Where:Pontifical College
- 8
Advice to take a vacation
In response to his worsening condition, Maurice's peers urge him to take a vacation and step away from the exhausting situation. They hope distance will help him refocus and recover his sense of vocation. He contemplates how such a break might affect his duties and relationships.
When:Following the peers' counsel Where:Pontifical College
- 9
An agent from Giuditta's circle appears
An agent connected to Giuditta's realm emerges, seemingly with a mission related to her. The appearance hints at a larger force at work beyond Maurice's immediate circle. The encounter signals a shift in how Giuditta will be managed moving forward.
When:After the decision to vacation Where:Around Maurice
- 10
The agent attracts Giuditta
The agent's approach succeeds in drawing Giuditta's attention away from Maurice. The demon shows renewed interest in this new handler, suggesting a potential end to the haunting Maurice has endured. The dynamic between Maurice and Giuditta shifts noticeably.
When:After the agent's arrival Where:Near Maurice
- 11
Giuditta leaves Maurice for elsewhere
With new direction found, Giuditta departs Maurice and follows her 'elsewhere' under the guidance of the agent. Maurice experiences a sense of relief mixed with bittersweet loss as the haunting seems to move on. The film moves toward a quieter, uncertain future.
When:End of the pursuit Where:From Maurice
- 12
Patricia's ongoing expectation
Patricia continues to love Maurice and awaits his decision about their future. Her patience underscores the emotional tension that remains even as strange events unfold around him. The narrative leaves their relationship unresolved, hovering on the edge of possibility.
When:Throughout the story Where:North American Pontifical College, Rome
Who Are the Main Characters in The Little Devil?
5 characters, among them Padre Maurizio (Walter Matthau), Patrizia (Patricia) (Stefania Sandrelli) and Giuditta: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Padre Maurizio (Walter Matthau)
Played by Walter Matthau
An earnest priest at the North American Pontifical College who wrestles with a growing romantic attraction. His commitment to duty is tested by Patrizia's insistence on a decision and by the disruptive presence of Giuditta. The exorcism and its aftermath reveal his fatigue, humility, and stubborn resolve as he navigates faith, doubt, and desire.
- 🙏 Priest
- 💬 Doubt
- 🧭 Duty
- P(
Patrizia (Patricia) (Stefania Sandrelli)
Played by Stefania Sandrelli
A woman who loves Padre Maurizio and pushes him to commit, embodying human longing outside the cloister. She represents emotional stakes in a story otherwise dominated by ritual. Her presence intensifies the priest's internal conflict and complicates the dynamics of faith and romance.
- 💘 Love
- 💬 Conflict
- 🌹 Attraction
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Giuditta
Played by Roberto Benigni
The escaped little devil who follows Maurice, reveling in mischief and subverting solemn routines. Giuditta manifests as a playful force that challenges authority and patience, sometimes returning good-naturedly to Maurice's life and sometimes creating public embarrassment. Ultimately, a new agent from the same place as Giuditta draws the demon away to 'elsewhere'.
- 👹 Supernatural
- 🎭 Mischief
- 🕊️ Escape
- SI
Signora indemoniata (Possessed Woman)
Played by Annabella Schiavone
An overweight woman possessed by the demon Giuditta; she is the vessel through which the exorcism unfolds, triggering Maurice's crisis and testing the clergy's response to supernatural threats.
- 👤 Possessed
- 😨 Fear
- 🌀 Exorcism
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Monsignore (Franco Fabrizi)
Played by Franco Fabrizi
A church authority at the college who oversees rites and offers guidance, reflecting institutional expectations during crisis. He serves as a foil to Maurice's personal turmoil and anchors the narrative’s sense of order amid upheaval.
- 🙏 Authority
- 🧭 Guidance
- 🎯 Duty
Where and When Is The Little Devil Set?
The Little Devil is set in North American Pontifical College and Rome. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
North American Pontifical College, Rome
Set inside the North American Pontifical College in Rome, a cloistered religious seminary in the heart of the Eternal City. The setting emphasizes quiet study, rites, and routines that frame the priests' lives. It contrasts sacred duties with personal longing, driving the film's tensions.
- 🏛️ Pontifical College
- 🌍 Rome
What Are the Themes of The Little Devil?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Supernatural, Love vs Duty and Ritual Humor.
-
01
Supernatural
An exorcism anchors the plot, exposing how faith and ritual contend with mischievous forces. The demon Giuditta disrupts Maurice's routines, testing his authority and patience. The supernatural events reveal character flaws and resilience, while staying playful rather than purely terrifying.
-
02
Love vs Duty
Patrizia's love for Maurice becomes a catalyst that challenges his vow of celibacy. His inner conflict pits personal longing against priestly obligations and community expectations. The romance is treated with humor and seriousness, showing how affection can tempt and trouble even those sworn to abstain.
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03
Ritual Humor
The film turns sacred rituals into moments of light satire, with the Mass briefly becoming a fashion parade due to Giuditta's antics. Colleagues suggest vacations and breaks, highlighting the humanity of clergymen under stress. The humor masks deeper questions about authority, tradition, and the cost of spiritual leadership.
What Kind of Film Is The Little Devil?
Whimsical in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Whimsical
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Happy
A whimsical and lighthearted Italian fantasy comedy about a priest whose routine is charmingly upended by a mischievous but ultimately harmless devil, leading to a series of playful and absurd situations.
- mischievous
- lighthearted
- playful
- chaotic
- absurd
- uplifting
- exorcism
- devilish mischief
- clergy life
- vacation
Quiz
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