Vermiglio

Vermiglio is the name of the small mountain village in Italy that in the last stages of the Second World War, has to deal with the consequences during and after the arrival and departure of a stranger.

Cesare Graziadei (Tommaso Ragno) is the local schoolmaster, and one of the most respected men in the town. With wife Adele (Roberta Rovelli) they have eight living children. Within the context of the story the main interest is with Lucia (Martina Scrinzi), Ada (Rachele Potrich), and Flavia (Anna Thaler). Poverty means they share the same bed they however have different ideas on life.

When Pietro (Giuseppe De Domenico), a Sicilian soldier who has deserted from his unit, arrives with local man Attilio (Santiago Fondevila), Lucia is immediately taken by him. An affair begins that leads to marriage and pregnancy. Then Pietro leaves for Sicily.

While this is the focus of the film for much of its length, there are strands that affect the dynamic of the family that don’t have much to do with Pietro and all to do with their father.

Her father dashes Ada’s hopes for a decent education while recommending that Flavia carries hers on enabling her to leave the village. With that Ada turns to church not before having a flirt with her sexuality with the town outcast Virginia (Carlotta Gamba).

An orthodox family man who believes he is entitled to respect Cesare is unable to adapt to the fallout that Pietro leaves and his standing in the village is affected.

Carefully over two hours and the four seasons writer and director Maura Delporo sets up town life, the family unit for then to slowly disintegrate it. It’s a studied approach that at times makes it difficult to engage with on the emotive level which it requires, in particular dealing with the subjects that it does.

Vermiglio is stunningly photographed with some glorious landscapes as the town passes through the seasons. Within this the cast are very good the frustrations and love of the sisters is profound and the erosion of Cesare’s standing in the village and a poignant performance from Ragno.

It’s also a busy film with a few other matters going in the village away from the central storyline. These are set up and carried though there’s not much of conclusion to them. Indeed the film is frustrating in that sense, if logical, as in the real-world life would continue and a film isn’t the real world.

Vermiglio will be in UK and Irish cinemas on 17 January 2025.