Venice Film Festival 2024 Review ‘Familia’

Familia, directed by Francesco Costabile, is a haunting exploration of violence, trauma, and the search for identity within an Italian family. The film delves deep into the cyclical nature of violence, portraying its pervasive impact on a family struggling to break free from its grasp. Inspired by real events and Luigi Celeste’s novel “Non sarà sempre così”, Familia brings to the screen a narrative that is as much about personal torment as it is about the broader societal failures that allow such cycles to persist.

The film follows Luigi Celeste, better known as Gigi (Francesco Gheghi), a twenty-year-old grappling with the trauma of his past while navigating the present. He lives with his mother, Licia (Barbara Ronchi), and his brother, Alessandro (Marco Cicalese). Their lives have been marked by the violence inflicted by their father, Franco (Francesco Di Leva), who has been absent for nearly a decade due to imprisonment. However, Franco’s return disrupts the fragile peace they’ve managed to build, bringing back old fears and setting the stage for new conflicts.

Costabile masterfully portrays the all-encompassing nature of domestic violence, showing how it ensnares each family member in its relentless cycle. Franco, instead of being the protector of the family, emerges as the perpetrator of intense physical and psychological abuse, leaving deep scars on Licia and her sons. The film visually reinforces the oppressive presence of violence in their lives, while Licia and her sons symbolize the perpetual state of fear and the difficulty they face in moving beyond their trauma.

Familia is a complex and emotionally charged film that explores the devastating effects of violence on a family struggling to break free from its grip. While not all of its themes are explored with the depth one might hope for, the film’s strong performances and innovative use of cinematic techniques make it a compelling watch. Costabile’s blending of genres—drama, crime, and horror—creates a tense and immersive experience that captures the audience’s attention and invites them to empathize with the characters’ plight.

The film’s conclusion, with Luigi confronting his childhood self and emerging as a protector for his inner child, offers a glimmer of hope for breaking the cycle of violence. As the captions at the end of the film suggest, Luigi is now a free man, looking forward to the possibility of becoming a father—a signal that there may be a way out of the nightmare after all.

Watch the trailer for Familia below

Familia will have its premiere on Sun, Sept 1st @ 5:30pm- Sala Darsena , Learn more about Venice Film Festival here