Calcinculo

Swing Ride
Benedetta, 15, lives in rural Italy with her parents and her two little sisters. After work, her father enjoys tinkering with cars while her mother takes out her frustration on Benedetta. When a funfair sets up on the family’s doorstep, she meets a fairground worker named Amanda who lives a self-determined life and defies gender norms. Benedetta is immediately fascinated by the older Amanda’s self-confidence and independence, and school quickly fades into the background. The two barely talk; their cautious friendship is not one fuelled by grand emotions but rather by genial affection, curiosity and unspoken acknowledgement.
Chiara Bellosi depicts them growing closer in quiet moments and precise observations that lend this coming-of-age film both its poetry and a pervasive sense of lightness. Calcinculo takes a tender look at an unusual friendship whilst unfolding a tale of self-discovery and breaking free.
by Chiara Bellosi
with Gaia Di Pietro, Andrea Carpenzano, Barbara Chichiarelli, Giandomenico Cupaiuolo, Francesca Antonelli, Alessio Praticò, Claudia Salerno
Italy / Switzerland 2022 Italian 90’ Colour

With

  • Gaia Di Pietro (Benedetta)
  • Andrea Carpenzano (Amanda)
  • Barbara Chichiarelli (Anna)
  • Giandomenico Cupaiuolo (Marco)
  • Francesca Antonelli (Silvana)
  • Alessio Praticò (Mario)
  • Claudia Salerno (Claudia)

Crew

Director Chiara Bellosi
Screenplay Maria Teresa Venditti, Luca De Bei
Cinematography Claudio Cofrancesco
Editing Carlotta Cristiani
Music Giuseppe Tranquillino Minerva, Fabrizio Campanelli
Sound Design Daniela Bassani, Maxence Ciekawy
Sound Xavier Lavorel
Production Design Luca Servino
Costumes Laura Locher
Make-Up Assunta Ranieri
Casting Chiara Polizzi
Assistant Director Nicola Scorza
Production Manager Giorgio Gasparini
Producers Carlo Cresto-Dina, Valeria Jamonte, Manuela Melissano
Co-Producer Katrin Renz
Co-Production tellfilm Zürich

Chiara Bellosi

Born in Como, Italy in 1973, she graduated with a diploma in dramaturgy from the Civica Scuola di Teatro Paolo Grassi in Milan and then took a master’s in documentary at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Venice. She made a short film as part of the multi-director documentary Checosamanca as well as being involved in the creation of several other documentaries. Her debut feature film, Palazzo di Giustizia (Ordinary Justice) screened in the 2020 Berlinale Generation section.

Filmography (selection)

2006 I cani di Catania; episode of the collective film “Checosamanca” 2020 Palazzo di Giustizia (Ordinary Justice) 2022 Calcinculo (Swing Ride)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022