Italian Film Festival Havelock North - A Chiara

From multi-award-winning writer/director Jonas Carpignano (A Ciambra, Meditteranea), To Chiara is a searing, gripping and remarkably poignant drama about a Calabrian teenage girl who learns some difficult truths about her close-knit family.

Gioia Tuaro, Southern Italy. The Guerrasio family and their friends gather to celebrate the 18th birthday of Giulia, the eldest daughter of Claudio and Carmela. There is a healthy rivalry between the birthday girl and her 15-year-old sister Chiara (extraordinary screen discovery Swamy Rotolo) - who’s clearly Dad’s favourite - though it’s a happy occasion. But Chiara gradually senses that something is very wrong, and then… her father disappears.

Chaira’s mother exudes reassurances to her three daughters but offers no clear explanation, so the teenager begins her own investigations. The more Chiara learns, the more she is forced to decide what kind of future she wants for herself.

Ingeniously structured and building to a thrilling climax, Carpignano’s neo-realist tale upends the mafia genre with an emotional and urgent new perspective. It’s an unmissable Festival highlight.

Brilliant! Gripping and unpredictable.

Indiewire

Instantly engaging. A director in command of the medium and physically entrenched in the milieu.

The Hollywood Reporter

WINNER

Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival 2021 – Best European Film

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2021 (Horizons)

OFFICIAL SELECTION

New York Film Festival 2021