Italian director Dario Albertini’s family drama “Armony” is distributed in Switzerland through Xenix Filmdistribution ahead of its world premiere in the Piazza Grande section of the Locarno Film Festival.

Sold internationally by True Colours, “Armony” is produced by Fremantle company The Apartment, Damocle and Rai Cinema in association with HBO Max. It stars Valerio Mastandrea, Asia Argento, who will receive the Life Achievement Award in Locarno, and newcomer Aurora Cherchi.

Written by Albertini and Simone Ranucci, “Armony” tells the story of an unconventional but loving family. At its center is Armony (Mastandrea), a 55-year-old lonely truck driver who is forced to care for his 6-year-old niece, Carlotta (Cherchi), after her sister goes missing.

Finding help from Pamela, an older transgender woman (played by the late Pamela Schettino in her final performance), and Jenny (Clara Tramontano), her young, pregnant neighbor, a chosen family soon forms. However, their fragile happiness is threatened when social services move to take Carlotta away, forcing Armony to endure a difficult journey fighting for legal custody.

The cast also includes Nando Paone, Elena Lietti, Francesca Antonelli and Ornella Muti.

“‘Armony’ won us over with its intimate portrayal of the characters and its authenticity,” says Xenix’s Cyrille Thurston.

The Locarno premiere will undoubtedly improve the film’s prospects in the country, he adds.

“We are convinced that word of mouth will have a positive effect and that visitors to the Piazza Grande will recommend the film to others.”

“Armony” is Albertini’s first film distributed by Xenix, which regularly releases Italian titles in Switzerland, including Nanni Moretti’s upcoming “It Will Happen Tonight.”

In making his latest film, Albertini sought to explore family ties through the lens of loneliness and “how an unexpected event can rekindle the sense of responsibility.”

The story also reflects the economic difficulties that afflict parts of Italian society, the director adds.

“This is undoubtedly an aspect deeply rooted in the areas where the film takes place. As is the case in many parts of Italy, personal and family vulnerabilities are added to the problem of finding work or decent housing. And yet, it is precisely in the darkest moments when, if one finds the strength to look at one’s own reality from a different perspective, the desire to fight can arise. This leads people to open themselves to new paths that, until then, had seemed inadequate or out of reach, especially when they come into play. the most intimate and family ties.

“At first, Armony chooses to live an almost marginal life, held back by the fear of facing the outside world and, above all, by a deep fear of creating bonds and giving in to affection,” explains Albertini.

The film was mainly shot in Fiumara, near Fiumicino, a coastal area on the outskirts of Rome “which, however, seems profoundly removed from current reality,” the director said. Variety.

“This location allowed Armony to immerse himself in a context completely unknown to him, visually amplifying his sense of estrangement. The fact that the environment has not changed over the years made it possible to capture a territory untouched by modernization, a microcosm suspended in time. At the same time, Fiumara’s closed design visually conveys the idea of a closed space. This made it possible to stage, in an almost tangible way, the tension of the protagonist, constantly observed by the eyes. scrutinizing him from within a very united.”

The idea behind “Armony” “comes from a true story that happened to someone very dear to me,” Albertini says. “It is from this intimate fragment of life that I developed the entire evolution of the story. At the center of the narrative is the theme of fatherhood, explored through the eyes of someone who chooses to renounce it out of sheer fear and insufficiency. And yet, when fate unites us with someone in a completely unexpected way, our defenses collapse. From that unexpected encounter arises a genuine spark, capable of turning the story into a journey into the human soul.”

As Armony, Mastandrea was ideal to bring the character to life, Albertini added.

“The character of Armony had been conceived a long time ago, but could not find its true form. Valerio was able to capture its most intimate and hidden nuances, making each gesture seem natural and eliminating any trace of stage acting. Thanks to this work, Armony fits perfectly into the story.”