The Opening Film

Towards a Radiant Future (Vers un Avenir Radieux)

Production Year: 2023

Film Duration: 95 minutes

Country: Italy

Director: Nanni Moretti

Summary:
Giovanni, the renowned Italian director, is gearing up for the production of his new film. Amidst the deterioration of his marriage, the financial struggles of his French producer, and his daughter leaving him alone, everything seems to be against him. On the verge of collapse, Giovanni must rethink his approach if he wants to lead his small world towards a brighter future.

While filming his movie dedicated to the Italian Communist Party’s (PCI) response to the 1956 Budapest uprising, his wife Paula, a producer, decides to produce a film for another director secretly. Their marriage is strained as she contemplates leaving him and consults a psychiatrist without his knowledge.

On the other hand, Giovanni must halt the production of his film because Pierre, the French producer, lacks funds. Reluctantly, Giovanni interviews Netflix executives to see if the company can provide the needed funds, but no common ground is found.

Finally, Giovanni and Paula find enthusiastic Korean producers for the project, and Paula confesses to Giovanni that she wants to leave him.

Director’s Biography:
Nanni Moretti, also known as Nanni, born on August 19, 1953, is an Italian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He won the Palme d’Or in 2001 for the film “The Son’s Room” and has received around thirty other international awards.

Nanni Moretti is a prominent figure in European cinema, establishing a cohesive body of work that develops a personal form combining biography, drama, critique, and struggle. His feature films aim to reconcile the traditions of the New Realism with Italian comedy symbols, providing a broad and introspective record of post-May 1968 and the beginning of the 21st century Italy.

Cast: Nanni Moretti, Margherita Buy, Silvio Orlando, Barbora Bobulova, and Mathieu Amalric.