FLORIDA PREMIERE

Q&A 3/9 with Dr. Ilaria Serra

Maria Linde is a Jewish Nobel Prize winner. Her life follows the quiet rhythms of the Italian countryside, until her world and relationships with her husband and daughter begin to erode as she grows fond of a young immigrant, Nazeer. At the crossroads of a free spirit and an aging body, Maria tries to define her role in the fast-changing conditions of her world. When a dramatic terrorist attack takes place in Rome, Maria shares a controversial opinion about the events in an impassioned acceptance speech, giving up her Nobel Prize and igniting controversy in her village and across Europe. From that moment on, she will experience a startling chain of consequences, for Nazeer, for her family, for the local community and for herself. “Dolce Fine Giornata” is a story about a clash of great creative intellect and femininity, with the backdrop of eroding democracy in Europe. From the first to the last scene, Maria has the strength and courage to stand for what she values most.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT - Jacek Borcuch

Old continent has been setting the tone for hundreds of years being a point of reference, shaping and imposing a picture of life on our planet. The best of images. Although Europe is still the best place to live, its inhabitants are beginning to demand concrete measures from politicians. Hundreds of thousands of newly arrived refugees are enforcing rapid, often ill-thought decisions, the consequences of which are felt every day by the citizens of Europe. The fear of the unknown, the lack of wise politics and cooperation between the states forming the union make the continent 'stuffy' and very uncertain.

In a multi-generational house, in a Tuscan province, not far from the old Etruscan city of Volterra, we look at its residents, different attitudes, different views of the world, a different vision of things in general. But most importantly, as if we were looking in a mirror, we are looking at ourselves. It is we who are forced to answer the difficult questions raised in the course of events. The subject of the film is Maria Linde, a Polish poet and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Her not always explicit relations with her closest ones are evading a simple understanding of life. Her courage and uncompromising attitude arouse extreme emotions. You can either identify with it or reject it. Nothing is easy, and nothing is as it seems. I wanted to tell a story about life that cannot be caught up with.

The image of the great poet, moral authority and a widely admired artist gave me great possibilities. It helps, e.g., in the intellectual battle - her strong presence in history, from the first to the last scene, makes it much easier to use great words, without risking falling into pretentiousness or pathos. My biggest challenge was to create a fictional, great poet credible in such a way as to be able to say through her life and actions, a few words about Freedom. Thankfully, Krystyna Janda, an icon, joined me in this journey.

Sponsored By Debbie & Eric Nemiroff