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The director of Pianoforte (1984) returns with an intimate and deeply moving reflection on her relationship with her father, Luigi Comencini — a revered figure in Italian cinema, yet a distant and elusive presence at home.

With both tenderness and restraint, Francesca Comencini explores the contradictions of their bond, tracing a path from the wonder of childhood through the turmoil of adolescence, offering an honest and evocative portrait of love, memory, and the spaces in between.

A devoted father and filmmaker (played by Fabrizio Gifuni) shares a special bond with his young daughter (played by Romana Maggiora Vergano), discovering the magic of childhood together — especially on the fantastical Pinocchio set he is working on, where chaos and wonder collide. But as the daughter grows, the enchantment begins to fade. Adolescence brings distance and disillusionment; she spirals into drug use, concealing her struggles from her father. Refusing to turn away, he takes a decisive step — bringing her to Paris in a final attempt to rekindle their connection and guide her back to herself.

Pasinetti Award & Soundtrack Stars Award, Venice Film Festival 2024

FEATURES:

• YEAR: 2025
• COUNTRY: Italy
• RUNTIME: 113 min
• In Italian with English subtitles
• Chicago International Film Festival 2024
• Villerupt Italian Film Festival 2024
• International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2025
• The American French Film Festival 2025

TIME IT TAKES