Reviews

Vermiglio (15) |Close-Up Film Review

Dir: Maura Delpero, Italy/ France/Belium 2024, 119 mins.

Cast: Martina Scrinzi, Tommaso Ragno, Giuseppe De Dominico, Santiago Fondevila

Review by Carlie Newman

With realistic performances, lovely photography and sensitive direction, this story of a remote village called Vermiglio in the Italian Alps is small of scale, but large in impact. 

Two deserters arrive in the village and disturb the easy-going lifestyle of the villagers. Attlio 

(Santiago Fondevila), who previously lived in the village is accompanied by Pietro (Giuseppe De Domenico), who is from Sicily. They are looked after by the village teacher, Caesar (Tommaso Ragno) and his family. 

The oldest daughter Lucia. (Martina Scrinz) falls for Pietro and marries him. What should be idyllic is not, and the ensuing scandal affects the whole community. 

Maura Delpero, in a fairly slow style, gives the background of the teacher’s family. He and his wife have many children and we see how their lives and education, particularly the girls, are altered by the circumstances around their sister. 

The music in the background, slow unfolding of the story alongside views of the gradual change in the seasons, affect the lives of the villagers. 

This quiet film, with no gun fire, explosions, or chases gives a realistic picture of life in 1944 in the remote village. go see!