Vittoria is an extraordinary, moving drama, based on real events, about a woman’s need to adopt a child, directed by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman.
Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice
by Alexa DalbyVittoria
CAUTION: Here be spoilers
Vittoria is based on real events: most participants are non-professional actors portraying their own lives. If you’re curious to see what happened in the end, you can see the real family as they are now.
Jasmine (Marliena Amato, who also was Jasmine in Californie) is a bleached-blonde Naples hairdresser: her husband (Gennaro Scarica) is a carpenter. Although they already have three sons, one an adult who works with her, Jasmine longs for a daughter, no matter how illogical that seems. The directors say, “Over the course of the film, it!s hard not to become attached to her.”
This uplifting film tells the story of her long quest to adopt a girl. Her husband is not consulted about her course of action, but he goes along with her wishes, although worried about how he will provide for another mouth.
Pink is a girly colour and those are the clothes Jasmine takes in her suitcase to the orphanage. The scenes where she and her husband are introduced to a potential (though damaged) child for adoption and try to communicate are truly very moving. Their obvious love may overcome the problems that they and the child face in future.
Vittoria is directed by prize-winning Italian/American filmmakers Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman, who worked through the emotional story with the family over several years. Although there are some fictionalised scenes in the film, this is a lovely, positive fact-based drama about the mysteries of the human heart and what it feels.
The directors say,”Something that also always interested us was this idea of following an irrational desire, a gut feeling, an instinct, even if you can’t come up with the logical reasons and motivations for your desire. When everybody around you, from the closest people in your life to society at large thinks your objective is wrong or unnecessary. We found that to be a fascinating starting point.”
Vittoria premieres at the Venice Film Festival on 30 August 2024. International representation is by Wolf Consultants. The real Vittoria, now 13, will be in Venice. Nanni Moretti is one of the producers.
