Familia (2024 film)

Familia
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFrancesco Costabile
Written by
Based onNon sarà sempre così
by Luigi Celeste
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGiuseppe Maio
Edited byCristiano Travaglioli
Music byValerio Vigliar
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Medusa Film
  • True Colours
Release dates
  • 1 September 2024 (2024-09-01) (Venice)
  • 2 October 2024 (2024-10-02) (Italy)
Running time
124 minutes
CountryItaly
LanguageItalian

Familia (transl. Family[a]) is a 2024 Italian drama film directed by Francesco Costabile [it], based on the 2017 memoir Non sarà sempre così by Luigi Celeste. It stars Francesco Gheghi, Barbara Ronchi, Francesco Di Leva, Marco Cicalese, Enrico Borello, and Tecla Insolia. It premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on 1 September 2024.[1]

Cast

  • Francesco Gheghi as Luigi "Gigi" Celeste
    • Francesco De Lucia as young Luigi
  • Barbara Ronchi as Licia Licino, Gigi's mother
  • Francesco Di Leva as Franco Celeste, Gigi's father
  • Marco Cicalese as Alessandro Celeste, Gigi's brother
    • Stefano Valentini as young Alessandro
  • Enrico Borello as Fulvio
  • Tecla Insolia as Giulia, Gigi's girlfriend

Production

Director Francesco Costabile [it] was inspired to direct the film after reading Luigi Celeste's memoir, Non sarà sempre così.[2] Costabile intentionally named the film after the Latin word familia,[3] stating, "I was struck by the Latin desinence of the term familia, a word that should represent the place of love and inclusion, but in Latin it recalls the contract of domination of the pater familias with his servants, among whom were also his wife and children."[4]

Principal photography took place in Rome, specifically in Monte Sacro, in spring 2024.[5][6]

Release

The trailer was released in August 2024.[7][8] The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on 1 September 2024 as part of the Orizzonti competition. Luigi Celeste, on whom the film is based, attended the premiere.[9][10]

It received a theatrical release in Italy on 2 October 2024.[11][12]

Reception

Federico Pontiggia of Cinematografo.it gave the film three out of five stars, calling it "a solid family thriller, well shot, acted and scored, further from infamy than praise."[13]

Damiano Panattoni of Movieplayer.it also gave the film three out of five stars, commending the casts' performances, specifically that of Francesco Gheghi, and Costabile's direction.[14]

William Stottor of Loud and Clear Reviews gave the film four out of five stars, writing, "Francesco Costabile's stunning drama Familia can be scattered and messy, but overall it is a loaded, subtle, and haunting look at domestic abuse."[15]

Piera Detassis of Elle Italia called the film "beautiful, a blow to the stomach, but above all to the heart", and commended the acting performances of the entire cast.[16]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Venice Film Festival 7 September 2024 Orizzonti Award for Best Film Familia Nominated [17]
Orizzonti Award for Best Actor Francesco Gheghi Won

Notes

  1. ^ Familia is the Latin translation of family. The Italian translation of family is famiglia.

References

  1. ^ Wiseman, Andreas; Tartaglione, Nancy (7 September 2024). "Venice Winners: Pedro Almodóvar's 'The Room Next Door' Wins The Golden Lion; Also Wins For Nicole Kidman, Brady Corbet, 'I'm Still Here' & More". Deadline. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  2. ^ Finos, Arianna; Giurato, Rocco (2 September 2024). "'Familia', a Venezia 81 il doloroso film di Francesco Costabile: "Troppe storie di violenza alle donne ridotti a mera statistica. Dietro i numeri ci sono vite, madri, figli. Questo film è per loro"". La Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  3. ^ Sernagiotto, Camilla (2 September 2024). "Familia, film presentato a Orizzonti alla Mostra del Cinema di Venezia". Sky TG24 (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  4. ^ Bonardelli, Marco (2 September 2024). "Le emozioni di "Familia", Costabile: un film contro la tossicità del patriarcato. A Venezia l'opera seconda del regista calabrese". Gazzetta del Sud (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  5. ^ Perreca, Alessia (5 March 2024). "Roma, Montesacro ancora un set cinematografico: al Tufello le riprese del nuovo film di Francesco Costabile". Il Messaggero (in Italian). Archived from the original on 12 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  6. ^ Polidori, Barbara (6 March 2024). "Montesacro diventa set cinematografico: le riprese del film di Francesco Costabile". Il Corriere della Città (in Italian). Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  7. ^ Barraclough, Leo (19 August 2024). "True Colours Acquires 'Familia' Ahead of Venice World Premiere, Trailer Debuts (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  8. ^ Mazzei, Raffaella (21 August 2024). "Familia, trailer e poster dell'opera seconda di Francesco Costabile in Concorso a Venezia 81". Spettacolo.eu (in Italian). Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  9. ^ Bogani, Giovanni (2 September 2024). ""Ho ucciso mio padre perché era violento": la storia di Luigi Celeste alla Mostra del cinema di Venezia". La Nazione (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  10. ^ Bianchi, Nicole (2 September 2024). "'Familia', l'immersione nell'abisso e l'altissimo prezzo della libertà". Cinecittà News (in Italian). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  11. ^ Dettori, Gianluca (21 August 2024). "Familia, il film tratto dal libro Non sarà sempre così racconta la straordinaria storia di Luigi Celeste". Wired Italia (in Italian). Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  12. ^ Cerniglia, Pietro (21 August 2024). "Venezia '81: Familia, un padre, un figlio e la violenza domestica nel film di Francesco Costabile". The Wom (in Italian). Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  13. ^ Pontiggia, Federico (1 September 2024). "Familia di Francesco Costabile". Cinematografo.it (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  14. ^ Panattoni, Damiano (1 September 2024). "Familia, la recensione: Francesco Costabile e l'infinita tensione di una bomba ad orologeria". Movieplayer.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  15. ^ Stottor, William (1 September 2024). "Familia Film Review: Terrifying, Hypnotic Drama". Loud and Clear Reviews. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  16. ^ Detassis, Piera (2 September 2024). "A Venezia 81, i film The Brutalist e Familia". Elle Italia (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  17. ^ Ford, Lily (7 September 2024). "Venice Film Festival Awards: Pedro Almodóvar Wins Golden Lion for 'The Room Next Door'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.