Selected to screen in the Panorama Section of the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival, Dafne is a poignant and feel-good portrait of a delicate family struck by a tragedy.
Dafne (an exuberant Carolina Raspanti) is a witty 35-year-old woman with Down syndrome. Despite being fiercely independent, she still lives with her ageing parents. When the sudden death of her mother shatters the family balance, Dafne’s father Luigi falls into a depressive state, and it is left up to Dafne to construct a new life path. When she proposes that she and Luigi undertake an adventure across the country, this sparks a series of events that give Dafne a new and exhilarating self-confidence and provide the ointment needed for her and Luigi’s wounds to heal.
This gentle and heart-warming second feature from director Federico Bondi bravely confronts societal prejudices with a beautifully harmonious combination of drama and comedy.
Director
Federico Bondi
Federico Bondi, originally from Florence, is a director and writer, known primarily for his documentaries. In 2008, he directed his first fiction feature film, Mar Nero. The film screened in competition at the Locarno Film Festival, where it won several awards and was nominated for a David di Donatello award.
