Keswick Film Club - L’immensità

Synopsis

Sometimes life just seems too big to cope with, and this film follows a family where that is all too true. Centred on the mother, Clara (Penelope Cruz) who is cracking up trying to keep here family together; trying to ignore her husband's extra marital shenanigans and trying to understand her eldest daughter, Adriana, who - if she only knew it back in 1970 Rome where this is set - is suffering from gender dysphoria and insists on being called Andrea.

Clara's way of coping is to identify with her children, and behaving like them - running through the streets shouting, even hiding under the table at a dinner party. There is still time for some beautiful tender moments with them, and, of course, being played by Penelope Cruz does help — she is fast building a reputation for these parts.

The character of Andrea is loosely based on director Emanuele Crialese's younger life, so he does empathise with his/her experience, giving the film a realistic feel. This is aided by some great acting from Luana Guiliani who plays Andrea "Sloe-eyed newcomer Giuliani, who identifies as a cisgender female in real life, is remarkable in a role that requires equal measures of innocence, sensitivity, and anger" - Steve Davis, Austin Chronicle.