Directed by Jonas Carpignano

Starring Swamy Rotolo, Claudio Rotolo, Antonio Rotolo Uno, Grecia Rotolo, Giorgia Rotolo and Carmelo Rotolo

Precocious 15-year-old Chiara (Swamy Rotolo) may only catch the occasional glimpse of her father, Claudio (Claudio Rotolo) appearing troubled while conversing with other people, but it’s enough for her to be certain that something secret and sinister is going on.

In this richly intense Italian drama, a very close-knit family are joyously and harmoniously celebrating the 18th birthday of Chiara’s eldest sibling, Guilia (Grecia Rotolo). Director Jonas Carpignano even extends the invite to audiences by truly grounding us in the present and allowing intimacy with the characters to form courtesy of the close-up and hand-held camerawork. Shortly before the celebratory night comes to a close, Claudio mysteriously and suspiciously disappears, prompting Chiara to assume the uncertain and dangerous role of kid detective.

For those of you who have seen Jonas Carpignano’s previous two films, A Ciambra and Mediterranea, which I understand are thematically linked, hopefully you’ll be as impressed as I was by A Chiara.

As the film is viewed from the perspective of Chiara, who fearlessly and persistently pursues the truth behind her father’s sudden vanishing, we are gradually informed of one secret at a time while simultaneously being kept in the dark over all others in real-time together with her. This format alone arouses plenty of suspense. The atmospheric quality of the film, largely due to effective sound mixing and camerawork, is strong and adds aplenty to that suspense. Casting a real-life family to portray the fictitious one on-screen certainly pays dividends too. The chemistry between the family members is so organic, which evidently contributes heavily towards the realism on display during more dramatic scenes when the close-knit family starts to crumble. This especially applies to the steely performance from debut actor Swamy Rotolo, who exhibits the range, timing and depth equal to that of a professionally trained actor. Directed with real vigour and great drive, A Chiara makes an impression, is memorable and didn’t win an award at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival for nothing! I’d even recommend it to moviegoers who don’t often opt for foreign and subtitled films.

A Chiara is showing as part of the 2021 St Ali Italian Film Festival at selected cinemas in Melbourne, Australia from November 19 to December 12.

Moviedoc thanks Palace, St Ali Italian Film Festival and Miranda Brown Publicity for the invite to the cinema screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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