IFF22 The Code of Silence

Synopsis

An evocative, dark drama inspired by true stories, The Code of Silence is set in the wild Calabrian landscape where hardship and beauty go hand in hand.

Having lost her mother when she was young, the restless Rosa (Lina Siciliano) has grown up in a southern Italian village with her grandmother and her uncle’s family. Rosa is haunted by oppressive dreams and images that cast a gloomy shadow over her present. Yet, the more she recalls her memories of the mysterious circumstances of her mother’s death, the more she begins to direct her gaze towards present-day family dynamics.

When the truth eventually emerges and Rosa becomes aware of her family’s involvement in the mafia, she must decide what she is willing to risk in order to break out of the ’Ndrangheta.

Based on the novel Fimmine rebelli by journalist Lirio Abbate and true stories of women who stood up to the ‘Ndrangheta, this drama from Francesco Costabile is a powerful feature film debut about a unique yet timeless story of resistance.

Awards

OFFICIAL SELECTION – Berlin International Film Festival 2022 – Panorama 

OFFICIAL SELECTION – Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2022: Horizons 

OFFICIAL SELECTION – Open Roads: New Italian Cinema 2022 

WINNER – Best Supporting Actor, Best Breakthough Actress, Bari International Film Festival 2022 

WINNER – Guglielmo Biraghi Award, Nastri d’Argento Awards 2022 

Reviews