Ti mangio il cuore: Pippo Mezzapesa's Mafia Drama Premieres at Venice 79

Pippo Mezzapesa's film 'Ti mangio il cuore' premiered in the Orizzonti section of the 79th Venice International Film Festival. The black-and-white film is based on the investigative book by Carlo Bonini and Giuliano Foschini about the 'fourth mafia' in the Gargano and Foggia province, the least known in Italy. It tells the story of an ancient feud between two families, the Malatesta and the Camporeale, ignited by a forbidden love between Andrea (Francesco Patané) and Marilena (Elodie), wife of the Camporeale boss. The film explores themes of vendetta, passion, and the struggle against a predetermined destiny, focusing on Marilena's resistance. Lidia Vitale plays Andrea's mother, a woman bound to the patriarchal system. The film was released in Italian theaters on September 22 via 01 Distribution and will stream exclusively on Paramount+ from January 2023.