Rome Film Festival to Spotlight News and War Stories from Historical Murders to Gaza
Rome: This year’s 20th Rome Film Festival, taking place from October 15 to 26, will feature a range of films that address current affairs and historical events, focusing on themes of news, war, and social battles. The festival will cover events from the notorious 1970 Casati Stampa murders to the recent crisis in Gaza.
According to Ansa News Agency, the Casati Stampa murders in 1970 involved Camillo II Casati Stampa di Soncino, a marquis who shockingly killed his wife, Anna Fallarino, and her lover, Massimo Minorenti, before taking his own life. This scandalous event, which rocked Italy, is revisited in Andrea De Sica’s film “Gli occhi degli altri,” starring Jasmine Trinca and Filippo Timi. The movie explores the decadence of high society, alongside themes of abuse and toxic relationships.
Another significant film is Vincenzo Alfieri’s “40 Secondi,” which recounts the tragic death of Willy Monteiro Duarte. Duarte was killed by two MMA-trained brothers while trying to protect a friend in Colleferro near Rome in September 2020. This film highlights themes of heroism and senseless violence.
Artistic director Paola Malanga emphasizes that the festival reflects global concerns, featuring stories of conflict and war. A poignant example is “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,” a documentary by Sepideh Farsi. The film presents the story of Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassouna, who was killed during an Israeli attack on Gaza, through video calls recorded over several months.
The festival also includes “Ken,” a satire by Nadav Lapid on Israeli society. It tells the story of a young jazz musician whose life changes after the October 7 attacks when he writes a song advocating for the destruction of Gaza.
In “Holding Liat,” director Brandon Kramer narrates the ordeal of Liat Beinin Atzili, an Israeli-American woman kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, attack, alongside her husband.
The urban thriller “Once Upon a Time in Gaza” by Tarzan and Arab Nasser transports viewers to a 2007 Gaza City, depicting a now-destroyed landscape.
International tensions are further explored in Jean-Stephane Bron’s “The Deal,” which revisits the 2015 US-Iran nuclear talks. Meanwhile, Mstyslav Chernov’s documentary “2000 Meters to Andriivka” follows a Ukrainian platoon navigating a mine-laden forest to liberate a village.
In another film, Yegor Troyanovsky’s “Cuba and Alaska” depicts the harsh realities faced by two Ukrainian doctors on the front lines.
The festival will also feature films on diverse subjects, such as Emilio Marrese’s documentary on the Italian Bishops’ Conference president, titled “Call Me Don Matteo – Zuppi, the Street Bishop,” and Fiorella Infascelli’s “La camera di consiglio,” which revisits the 1987 Palermo Mafia trials.
Other features include the Netflix series “Mrs. Playmen,” starring Carolina Crescentini as a trailblazing magazine editor, and “La principala,” a series by Luca Miniero focusing on educational reform.
Globally, the festival will showcase Jim Sheridan and David Merriman’s film “Re-Creation,” inspired by the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, and Dolores Fonzi’s “Belen,” which examines a controversial infanticide trial in Argentina.
Finally, “In Miss Carbon” by Agustina Macri tells the true story of Carla Antonella Rodriguez, a trans woman and miner in Patagonia, challenging societal norms.