RESPIRO

Year: 2002
USA: Sony Classics
UK: Metro Tartan Distribution
Cast: Valeria Golino, Vincenzo Amato, Francesco Casisa, Veronica D'Agostino, Filippo Pucillo, Muzzi Loffredo, Elio Germano
Director: Emanuele Crialese
Countries: Italy / France
Language: Italian (English subtitles)
UK: 96 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for nudity and thematic elements
UK Certificate: 12A contains moderate emotional intensity
USA Release Date: 23 May 2003 (Limited Release - Los Angeles and New York)
UK Release Date: 8 August 2003

US Distributor

Synopsis

On Lampedusa, an island near western Sicily rival boy gangs play roughly among seaside cliffs. Husbands go out to sea and wives work in the fish packing plant. Pleasures are simple and fun is restricted to Saturday nights. The reality for all who live on Lampedusa is that island life can be as cruel as it is heart-warming, as suffocating as it is charming.

Grazia (Valeria Golino) is the affectionate, young mother of three children - a teenaged girl Marinella (Veronica D'Agostino), and two boys Pasquale (Francesco Casisa) and Filippo (Filippo Pucillo). Vibrant and full of life, Grazia often sings along to the latest hit by Italian pop star Patti Pravo and enjoys finding ways to amuse herself and her children. But Grazia, much like the sea surrounding her island, can also be unpredictable and stormy. Her free-spirited attitude causes talk in the entire village.

Grazia's husband Pietro (Vincenzo Amato) lovingly stands by her in the face of small town gossip. But as Grazia's behaviour becomes more reckless, even the powerful shield of her family's love can't protect her. Her husband's relatives become convinced that she is seriously unstable and decide that she needs medical treatment in Milan. But Grazia will have no part of this and her son Pasquale finds a way protect her and the bond that she shares with her family.