Familia (2024 film)

• 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 was inspired to direct the film after reading Luigi Celeste's memoir, Non sarà sempre così. Costabile intentionally named the film after the Latin word familia, 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." Principal photography took place in Rome, specifically in Monte Sacro and Tufello, in spring 2024. ==Release==

The trailer was released in August 2024. 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. It received a theatrical release in Italy on 2 October 2024. ==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." 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. 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." 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. ==Awards and nominations==