Familia () 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 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
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.
Awards and nominations Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result David di Donatello 2025 Best Adapted Screenplay Francesco Costabile, Vittorio Moroni, Adriano Chiarelli Best Actor Francesco Gheghi Best Actress Barbara Ronchi Best Supporting Actor Francesco Di Leva Best Supporting Actress Tecla Insolia Best Casting Anna Pennella Best Original Song "Atoms" – and Greta Zuccoli Young David Familia Nastri d'Argento 2025 Best Director Francesco Costabile Best Supporting Actor Francesco Di Leva Best Casting Director Anna Pennella Best Editing Cristiano Travaglioli Best Sound Gianluca Costamagna Premio BNL BNP Paribas Familia Francesco Gheghi Venice Film Festival2024 Orizzonti Award for Best Film Familia Orizzonti Award for Best Actor Francesco Gheghi
See also List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film List of Italian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
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