Turin, 1938. Seventeen-year-old Ginia (Yile Yara Vianello) leaves the countryside with her brother in search of a new life in the city. Though Turin lies in the shadow of a rising fascist government and her brother yearns to return home, Ginia is optimistic about the future. In a short time, she excels in her work as a seamstress at an atelier, gaining new clients with her designs and impressing her otherwise irascible employer. Restless and seeking adventure, Ginia soon finds it in a beautiful, enigmatic young woman named Amelia (Deva Cassel). Though similar in age, her new friend’s sensuality and confidence embolden Ginia to begin modeling for the bohemian artists in their circle. A whirlwind affair ensues, and the young seamstress finds herself swept up in this unfamiliar and exciting world, all the while never escaping Amelia’s spell. The young women grow closer, and Ginia makes an emotional journey towards self-discovery over the course of one beautiful, sun-dappled summer.

Featuring tender performances by Vianello and Cassel, Laura Luchetti’s THE BEAUTIFUL SUMMER, which had its world premiere in competition at the Locarno Film Festival, showcases the “intertwined complexities of first love and first sexual experiences, highlighting the inevitable messiness and poignancy of adolescence” (Screen Anarchy).

“A warm and sensual portrayal of a young woman’s maturation. It is powerful in its honest depiction of exploration, with one’s own body and sexuality. While exercising strong direction and empathetic performances, Laura Luchetti’s film enters the canon of coming of age films with a commanding presence.” –Cinema Femme

DIRECTED BY LAURA LUCHETTI
ITALY | 2023 | ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES