Misericordia (2023 film) explained

Misericordia is a 2023 Italian drama film co-written and directed by Emma Dante. It was awarded the Grand Prix for the Best Film at the 27th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

Cast

• Simone Zambelli as Arturo
• Simona Malato as Betta
• Tiziana Cuticchio as Nuccia
• Milena Catalano as Anna
• Fabrizio Ferracane as Polifemo
• Carmine Maringola as Enzo

Production

Like previous Dante's efforts, the film is based on Dante's own play.^[1] The film was shot between Palermo and Trapani.^[2]

Release

The film premiered out of competition at the 18th Rome Film Festival.^[3] It was released in Italian cinemas on 16 November 2023.^[4]

Reception

Critical responsePanorama film critic Simona Santoni included the film in the best 10 Italian films of 2023, and described it as "visceral and intense, with varied baroque moments."^[5] Wendy Ide from Screen International described it as a " visceral, unsettling" film that "with its hard-edged compassion and affinity with society’s discarded and rejected souls, has a kinship with the work of Pasolini".^[1] Cineuropa wrote: "This incredibly dark tale ends up filling our hearts to bursting point".^[3]

AwardsMisericordia won the Grand Prix for the Best Film at the 27th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.^[6] It received a David di Donatello nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and four Nastro d'Argento noms, for best actress (Simona Malato), best supporting actor (Fabrizio Ferracane), best cinematography and best casting director.^{[7] [8]}

Notes and References

1. News: Ide . Wendy . 'Misericordia': Tallinn Review . 4 October 2024 . Screen International. 12 November 2023 . en.
2. News: Parente . Linda . L'inconfondibile tratto artistico di Emma Dante . 4 October 2024 . Cabiria magazine . 14 March 2022 . it-IT.
3. News: Scarpa . Vittoria . Review: Misericordia . 4 October 2024 . . 10 November 2023 . en.
4. News: Ravarino . Ilaria . Misericordia di Emma Dante: "Femminicidi crimini contro l'umanità" . 4 October 2024 . . 26 October 2023 . it-IT.
5. News: Santoni. Simona . I 10 film italiani più belli del 2023 - Panorama . 4 October 2024 . . 28 December 2023 . it.
6. Web site: Emma Dante's 'Misericordia' Takes Top Prize at the Black Nights Film Festival. Variety. 19 November 2023. 4 October 2023. John. Bleasdale.
7. News: Nastri d'Argento 2024, ecco tutte le candidature . 4 October 2024 . . 7 June 2024 . it.
8. News: David di Donatello 2024, la lista completa dei vincitori . 4 October 2024 . . 3 May 2024 . it-IT.