A small village in Southern Italy is the setting for an ancient and controversial self-flagellation ritual that draws believers and many curious visitors. Thousands crowd the old streets to see the Vattienti, who run around the town while beating their legs with splinters of glass. What is behind this ritual? What pushes these people to perform such an act? Tales of a Ritual is a hybrid of anthropological research and journalism that analyzes this phenomenon and explores the blood relation between faith and identity.