Italian Cinema Weekend: Three Films from Berlinale to Theaters

Three films are hitting Italian theaters this weekend, each with distinct appeal. 'La paranza dei bambini', directed by Claudio Giovannesi and based on Roberto Saviano's novel, was the only Italian film in competition at the 69th Berlinale. Distributed by Vision Distribution, it portrays lost adolescence replaced by power and money through firearms, featuring all debutant young actors. Giovannesi aimed to avoid comparisons with 'Gomorra'. 'Touch me not', winner of the Golden Bear at the 2018 Berlinale, arrives via I Wonder Pictures. Directed by Adina Pintilie, it took seven years to produce and explores intimacy through three characters in a cold, white aesthetic, offering a therapeutic narrative about bridging self and others. 'Rex – Un cucciolo a palazzo', distributed by Eagle Pictures, is an animated comedy set in Buckingham Palace. It follows a pampered dog who causes a diplomatic incident with the US president, leading to his fall from grace. The film features caricatures of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and Donald Trump.