Luke McWilliams gives his review of the 2022 film, To Chiara (M), starring Swamy Rotolo and Carmela Fumo.

In Gioia Tuara, Southern Italy, the Guerrasio family are celebrating the 18th birthday of Giulia (Grecia Rotolo), the eldest daughter of Claudio (Claudio Rotolo) and Carmela (Carmela Fumo). Easily her father’s favourite, 15-year-old Chiara (Swamy Rotolo) lets her older sister have the limelight on this night. Soon however, Claudio disappears, and Chiara starts to wake up to the family and life around her.

The movie is shot extremely close. Faces of family fill the frame, highlighting the excitement of life for a 15-year-old, the importance of a very close-knit family, and limitations of Chiara’s perspective. It is only after a car bombing on her street and the disappearance of her precious father that Chiara starts a journey of adulthood; of growing independence and a widening world-viewpoint that is open to recognising that her family and parents are not as they once seemed. In investigating the truth of her situation, Chiara’s obstacles prove to be her mother and wider family, staunch in their position in not only blocking Chiara from the truth, but also in their unfaltering attempt at keeping the status quo for the good of the family.

Once lit, Chiara’s burning want of the truth cannot be extinguished until she finds it, where she may ultimately be in a position to make an authentic choice of the life she wants to live, and the person she wishes to be.

Verdict:  A fantastic coming-of-age tale, with a magnetic performance by lead Rotolo, allaccompanied by an excellent soundtrack. 4 stars.

Luke McWilliams | www.themovieclub.net | Viewed at Palace Electric Cinemas. 

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