Familia (lit.'Family')[a] is a 2024 Italian biographicaldrama film directed by Francesco Costabile, co-written by Costabile, Vittorio Moroni, and Andriano Chiarelli, based on the 2017 memoirNon sarà sempre così by Luigi Celeste. It follows Gigi (Francesco Gheghi), a young far-right militant from a modest Italian working class family shattered by domestic violence, living in the shadow of his criminal father (Francesco Di Leva) and trying to find peace for his mother, Licia (Barbara Ronchi).
Director Francesco Costabile was inspired to direct the film after reading Luigi Celeste's memoir, Non sarà sempre così.[3] Costabile intentionally named the film after the Latin word familia,[4] stating, "I was struck by the Latin desinence of the term familia, a word that should represent the place of love and inclusion, but in Latin it recalls the contract of domination of the pater familias with his servants, among whom were also his wife and children."[5]
It received a theatrical release in Italy on 2 October 2024.[13][14]
Reception
Federico Pontiggia of Cinematografo.it gave the film three out of five stars, calling it "a solid family thriller, well shot, acted and scored, further from infamy than praise."[15]
Damiano Panattoni of Movieplayer.it also gave the film three out of five stars, commending the casts' performances, specifically that of Francesco Gheghi, and Costabile's direction.[16]
William Stottor of Loud and Clear Reviews gave the film four out of five stars, writing, "Francesco Costabile's stunning drama Familia can be scattered and messy, but overall it is a loaded, subtle, and haunting look at domestic abuse."[17]
Piera Detassis of Elle Italia called the film "beautiful, a blow to the stomach, but above all to the heart", and commended the acting performances of the entire cast.[18]
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