La città dei vivi: Film on Luca Varani's Murder Avoids Showing Violence

At the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, Edoardo Gabbriellini presented 'La città dei vivi' in the Orizzonti section. The film, freely inspired by Nicola Lagioia's book of the same name, recounts the story of Luca Varani, a 23-year-old killed in Rome on the night between March 4 and 5, 2016. However, Gabbriellini makes a deliberate choice: the murder is never shown. Instead, the film focuses on Luca's life before the tragedy and the aftermath for those left behind. Emanuele Maria Di Stefano portrays Luca, depicting his daily routine, work with his father, night school, relationship with his girlfriend, and encounters with casual sex for money. The film avoids sensationalism, opting for a restrained, naturalistic, and lyrical language. Gabbriellini describes it as 'an interrupted coming-of-age story' and states that 'suggesting has become stronger than showing.' The cast includes Valerio Mastandrea, Gaia Merlonghi, Simona Senzacqua, and Roberta Mattei. The film does not offer definitive explanations but aims to reflect on reality without being invasive or morbid. It emphasizes that after death, the living continue: parents who cannot sit at home and must eat out, and a city that keeps moving. The title, 'The City of the Living,' underscores this focus on those who remain.