GIOVANNA’S FATHER
(Il papa  di Giovanna)

Prolific writer/director Pupi Avati’s compelling and emotional new drama tells the story of a protective father besotted by his daughter who he treats like a princess, only to discover she’s not the shy girl he thought.

Bologna, 1938. Michele Casali (Silvio Orlando, The Caiman-IFF06) is an artist and a teacher at his teenage daughter Giovanna’s (Alba Rohrwacher, Riprendimi – IFF08) school. Giovanna is a shy and insecure teenage girl who doesn’t fit in at school, so her father does his best to help her - even by using the little authority he has as a teacher to favour a handsome male student (Antonio Pisu) only because he’s the first boy to pay Giovanna any attention.

Avati’s handsomely produced new film is marked by tremendous performances: Silvio Orlando was awarded Best Actor at Venice for his moving and emotionally charged turn; Rohrwacher received the Best Actress Award at this year’s David di Donatello's, whilst Francesca Neri and Ezio Greggio bring great dignity to their supporting roles.