Familia (lit. 'Family') is a 2024 Italian psychological drama film directed by Francesco Costabile, co-written by Costabile, Vittorio Moroni, and Andriano Chiarelli, based on the 2017 memoir Non sarà sempre così by Luigi Celeste. It follows Gigi (Francesco Gheghi), a young far-right militant from a modest Italian working class family shattered by domestic violence, living in the shadow of his criminal father (Francesco Di Leva) and trying to find peace for his mother, Licia (Barbara Ronchi).
The film had its world premiere in the Orizzonti section of the 81st Venice International Film Festival on 1 September 2024, where Gheghi won the Orizzonti Award for Best Actor. It was theatrically released in Italy by Medusa Film on 2 October 2024, and was received with critical acclaim by Italian critics, specially for its acting ensemble. At the 70th David di Donatello, Francesco Di Leva won for Best Supporting Actor, and the film was nominated for Best Actor (Gheghi), and Best Actress (Ronchi), among other categories.
It was selected as the Italian entry for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
Contents
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 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.