A new Italian classic: ‘Vermiglio’ set to captivate North American audiences
A cinematic gem from the Alps
Sideshow and Janus Films have secured the North American rights to Maura Delpero’s intimate epic, Vermiglio, which recently garnered the prestigious Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. This evocative drama, set in an Alpine village at the end of World War II, explores the intricate dynamics between three sisters disrupted by the arrival of a soldier. Following its success in Venice, Vermiglio made its North American debut in the special presentations section at Toronto.
A quiet yet powerful narrative
In a statement, Sideshow and Janus Films announced their plans to release Vermiglio theatrically in the coming months. The film has been lauded for its subtle yet profound storytelling. Critic Jessica Kiang described it as “quietly breathtaking,” highlighting how the film “unfolds from tiny tactile details of furnishings and fabrics and the hide of a dairy cow, into a momentous vision of everyday rural existence in the high Italian Alps.”
Venice jury president Isabelle Huppert praised the film for its unique approach to depicting war. “It’s like you have a great offscreen subject matter, but you get to see what’s going on only through a small eye, through the latch of a door,” she remarked during a press conference.
A personal journey for the director
In an interview prior to the awards ceremony, Delpero revealed that Vermiglio is her most personal film, stemming from the grief of her father’s death. This emotional foundation adds a layer of depth to the narrative, making it resonate on a more intimate level with the audience.
Vermiglio follows Delpero’s first feature, Maternal, which is set in an Argentinian refuge for teenage mothers run by nuns. Maternal made a significant impact on the festival circuit, establishing Delpero as a filmmaker to watch.
Behind the scenes: The making of ‘Vermiglio’
The North American rights deal for Vermiglio was negotiated by Sideshow and Janus Films with Anonymous Content’s Nick Shumaker and Charades’ Carole Baraton, representing the filmmakers. The film’s producers include Francesca Andreoli, Leonardo Guerra Seràgnoli, Delpero, and Santiago Fondevila Sancet. It is co-produced by Carole Baraton, Pauline Boucheny Pinon, Jacques-Henry Bronckart, and Tatiana Kozar. Vermiglio is a co-production between Cinedora and RAI Cinema, with additional co-production by Charades Production and Versus Production, and participation from Anonymous Content.
A new chapter for Italian cinema
Sideshow and Janus Films expressed their admiration for Vermiglio, calling it “a new Italian classic that is intimate in scale but epic in scope.” They praised Delpero for creating “an unforgettable portrait of a family and especially the women as they navigate their way in a world that is about to change forever.” The companies are eager to introduce this remarkable film to American audiences in theaters.
Expanding horizons: Other notable films
At the Toronto International Film Festival, Sideshow and Janus Films are also presenting several other noteworthy films. These include Gints Zilbalodis’ animated adventure Flow, which premiered at Cannes and won four trophies at Annecy. Flow has been selected to represent Latvia in the best international feature category at the Oscars. Additionally, they are showcasing Payal Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix winner All We Imagine as Light, Alain Guiraudie’s Misericordia, and Jia Zhangke’s Caught by the Tides. Next month, they will launch Leos Carax’s It’s Not Me at the New York Film Festival.
Discover more
For those eager to delve deeper into these cinematic treasures, here are some direct links to trailers and information pages:
Final thoughts
Vermiglio is poised to make a significant impact on North American audiences, offering a poignant and visually stunning exploration of family and resilience in the face of change. As Sideshow and Janus Films continue to bring diverse and compelling stories to the forefront, cinema enthusiasts have much to look forward to in the coming months.