IFF26 Bellissima

Marking its 75th anniversary, Anna Magnani delivers a career-defining turn in Bellissima, Luchino Visconti’s biting critique of postwar Italy’s obsession with fame. When Cinecittà Studios launches a child talent search, working-class nurse Maddalena (Magnani) becomes the ultimate stage mother, upending her humble household and pushing her young daughter toward stardom. Yet her relentless hustle collides with reality when a scheming studio insider demands money and favours, leading to a heartbreaking awakening about the true cost of chasing illusions. Equal parts witty and devastating, Bellissima captures two masters of Italian cinema at the absolute peak of their powers.