Riccardo Milani's 'La vita va così' opens Rome Film Fest with civil engagement theme

Riccardo Milani's new film 'La vita va così' will open the 20th Rome Film Festival (Festa del Cinema di Roma) and be released on October 23 via Medusa. The film is inspired by a real event the director learned about ten years ago, set in southern Sardinia. It follows Efisio Mulas (Ignazio Loi), a solitary shepherd defending his land, and Giacomo (Diego Abatantuono), an entrepreneur wanting to build a luxury resort. Francesca (Virginia Raffaele), Efisio's daughter torn between heritage and future, and Giovanna (Geppi Cucciari), a judge resolving the legal conflict, are also central. Milani describes the film as an anthropological journey into collective fracture between work necessity and land respect. He believes comedy can reach people with opposing views. Virginia Raffaele, previously directed by Milani in 'Un mondo a parte', notes his 'Milani method' combines artistic and human experience. The film references 1970s Italian cinema, where Alberto Sordi denounced healthcare malpractice, as a character in 'La vita va così' mentions. Milani frames resistance as an act of love and 'no' as a form of freedom.