20th Century Women
118'
USA
IFFR 2017
The rigid rules of faith of the Jehovah’s Witnesses are like a cage for a diver amongst sharks: they have to protect the faithful against dangerous influences from without. The intelligent Giulia was brought up with that idea in mind. When she falls in love with such a 'shark' – the rough ex-con Libero – her whole life is turned upside down. Will Giulia dare to choose a life with Libero, even if she is then cast out by her family? How can she know what she wants, if she is so used to people thinking for her? In his apposite feature debut, Marco Danieli investigates themes such as identity, personality and the interaction between the individual and society.
This makes Worldly Girl more a coming-of-age story than a romance, even though you almost forget that, thanks to the stunning chemistry between Sara Serraiocco and Michele Riondino, who won the Pasinetti awards in Venice for the best actors.
IFFR 2017