Italy’s ‘Family’ Tackles Universal Theme of Violence with Oscar Nod

Rome: The violence depicted in “Family,” Italy’s candidate for the best foreign film Oscar, is a universal and urgent theme, according to its director Francesco Costabile. The film was selected on Monday, and Costabile expressed his thoughts on its timely and significant message.

According to Ansa News Agency, “Family” narrates the story of a young far-right militant whose life is disrupted by the return of his abusive father after a decade. The film highlights the pervasive issue of gender violence, which Costabile describes as a transcultural and universal theme that demands public awareness, particularly at this moment in history.

The 44-year-old director from Calabria emphasized the relevance of the film in today’s context, especially following the death of Charlie Kirk, a figure representing fundamentalist Catholic America, where women often become victims. Costabile mentioned that when he received the call about the film’s selection, he initially thought it was a prank. He praised the decision as a “courageous choice,” underscoring the importance of addressing such themes in cinema.