‘Don't forget: we’re working people! We are a team!’ Dafne waves to her father Luigi encouragingly. Then she marches off to be on time for her job at the supermarket. Dafne has recently lost her mother – and Luigi his wife – in an accident. But whilst this 30-year-old, who was born with Down’s syndrome, is still managing to master her life with verve after the terrible disaster, her father sinks into a depression. It will take all the energy Dafne can muster to help him get back on his feet. Fortunately, headstrong Dafne happens to have a lot of it up her sleeve.
In Federico Bondi’s portrait of a family trying to cope with bereavement, the roles appear to be reversed. Neither Dafne’s experience of loss nor her genomic mutation can diminish her optimism. The more she tenderly cares for Luigi, the more he seems to struggle with his responsibilities as a father. In his second feature film, the Italian director gently reveals that coming-of-age is not necessarily a question of age and that, in the end, it doesn’t really matter who supports whom. The main thing is to stick together.
by Federico Bondi
with Carolina Raspanti, Antonio Piovanelli, Stefania Casini
Italy 2019 Italian 94’ Colour

With

  • Carolina Raspanti (Dafne)
  • Antonio Piovanelli (Luigi)
  • Stefania Casini (Maria)

Crew

Written and Directed by Federico Bondi
Cinematography Piero Basso
Editing Stefano Cravero
Music Saverio Lanza
Sound Design Daniela Bassani, Marzia Cordò, Giancarlo Rutigliano, Stefano Grosso
Sound Mirko Guerra
Production Design Cristina Del Zotto, Alessandra Mura
Costumes Massimo Cantini Parrini
Make-Up Sara Marina Lombardi
Casting Francesca Borromeo
Assistant Directors Cinzia Castania, Vincenzo Rosa
Line Producer Gian Luca Chiaretti, Maurizio Milo
Producers Marta Donzelli, Gregorio Paonessa

World sales

Rai Com

Produced by

Vivo film

Federico Bondi

Born in Florence, Italy in 1975. After studying film at the University of Florence, he worked as a documentary and commercials director and made films including Soste, Soste Japan and L’uomo planetario. L’utopia di Ernesto Balducci. His debut feature film, Mar Nero, screened at the 61st Locarno International Film Festival where it won prizes including the Best Actress Award. The film went on to screen at various festivals around the world and was nominated for further awards such as the David di Donatello and the Nastro d’Argento for Best New Director.

Filmography (selection)

2001 Soste; documentary 2002 Soste Japan; documentary 2005 L’uomo planetario. L’utopia di Ernesto Balducci; documentary 2009 Mar nero 2013 Educazione affettiva; documentary

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019