Synopsis : Nico, a lively, grumpy and impertinent child who grew up in a secular family, in a modern, technological and hyper-connected world, is forced to spend the summer in Sicily, as a guest of an elderly aunt, a very religious and grumpy lady who lives alone, in an ancient palace full of legends and superstitions, without wi-fi or electrical appliances, without any kind of technology, completely out of time. The clash between modernity and the past, between reason and religion, between speed and slowness, marks the beginning of their stormy relationship. Yet slowly, a deep bond is born that they both did not know they needed.
Festival History : Locarno International Film Festival 2025
Awards : Special Jury Prize CINÉ+ - Locarno Film Festival 2025
Director :
Margherita Spampinato
Producer :
Benedetta Scagnelli, Alessio Pasqua
Screenplay :
Margherita Spampinato
DOP :
Claudio Cofrancesco
Editor :
Margherita Spampinato
Cast :
Marco Fiore, Aurora Quattrocchi, Martina Ziami, Camille Dugay, Clara Salvo
Margherita Spampinato is born in Palermo. She graduates in Arts and Humanities from La Sapienza University in Rome. She begins working in cinema in Paris, where she lives for several years. Back in Rome, she works as a script supervisor on over 30 films. For several years, she also dedicates herself to casting work for films and series. As a director, she makes two short films, Tommasina and Segreti. Sweetheart (Gioia Mia) is her first feature film.