A Chiara

Gioia Tuara, Southern Italy. The Guerrasio family and their friends gather to celebrate the 18th birthday of Guilia, the eldest daughter of Claudio and Carmela. There is a healthy rivalry between the birthday girl and her 15-year-old sister Chiara (extraordinary screen discovery Swamy Rotolo) - who’s clearly Dad’s favourite - though it’s a happy occasion. But Chiara gradually senses that something is very wrong, and then... her father disappears. Chaira’s mother exudes reassurances to her three daughters but offers no clear explanation, so the teenager begins her own investigations. The more Chiara learns, the more she is forced to decide what kind of future she wants for herself. Ingeniously structured and building to a thrilling climax, Carpignano’s virtuoso, neo-realist tale never casts its protagonist as hero or victim, upending the mafia genre with an emotional and urgent new perspective. Intimate and furiously paced, it's a must-see. (Palace Films)