LORD OF THE ANTS

PLOT

The playwright and poet Aldo Braibanti was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment on charges of plagiarism, i.e. having subjected one of his students and friends, who had recently come of age, to his will, in a physical and psychological sense. The boy, at the behest of his family, was locked up in a psychiatric hospital and subjected to a series of devastating electric shocks so that he would ‘recover’ from that ‘diabolical’ influence. A few years later, the crime of plagiarism was removed from the criminal code. But in reality it had served to indict the ‘different’ of all kinds, the outlaws of the norm. Inspired by real events, the film tells a story with several voices, where, alongside the accused, family and friends, accusers and supporters, and a mostly distracted or indifferent public opinion take shape. Only one journalist undertakes to reconstruct the truth, facing suspicion and censure.

GENRE

Dramatic, Historical

CAST

Luigi Lo Cascio, Elio Germano, Leonardo Maltese, Sara Serraiocco, Anna Caterina Antonacci.

PRODUCTION

Tenderstories, Kavac Film, ITC Movie, RAI Cinema.

PRODUCED BY

Moreno Zani, Malcom Pagani, Beppe Caschetto, Simone Gattoni, Sonia Cilia, Paolo Del Brocco, Gaudy Rossi.

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

In Competition at the 79th Venice International Film Festival 2022

David di Donatello 2023:
Best Film
Best Director to Gianni Amelio
Best Leading Actor to Luigi Lo Cascio
Best Supporting Actor to Elio Germano
Best Original Screenplay to Gianni Amelio, Edoardo Petti, Federico Fava
Best Hair Stylist
Best Costume Designer
Best Sound Engineer
Best Production Designer
Best Makeup Artist
Best Editor to Simona Paggi

Nastri d’Argento 2023:
Best Film
Best Leading Actor to Luigi Lo Cascio
Best Cinematography to Luan Amelio