The Art of Joy

L'arte della gioia

TIFF65: Greek Premiere

Born on the 1st of January 1900 in a poor family in rural Sicily, Modesta pursues happiness since her childhood without falling victim to the constraints of society. After a tragic event that takes her away from her family, Modesta is welcomed into a monastery, where she becomes the Mother Superior’s protégé thanks to her intelligence and stubbornness. Later, she arrives at the villa belonging to the Princess of Brandiforti, where she makes herself indispensable. This relentless process of emancipation goes along with a journey of personal growth and sexual awakening, which leads her to discover and claim the right to pleasure and happiness.

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Valeria Golino

Script: Valeria Golino, Luca Infascelli, Francesca Marciano, Valia Santella, Stefano Sardo

Cinematography: Fabio Cianchetti

Editing: Giogiò Franchini

Music: Tóti Guðnason

Actors: Tecla Insolia, Jasmine Trinca, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi,  Guido Caprino, Alma Noce, Giovanni Bagnasco, Giuseppe Spata

Production: Sky Studios, HT Film

Producers: Viola Prestieri

Costumes: Maria Rita Barbera

Format: DCP

Color: Color

Production Country: Italy, UK

Production Year: 2024

Duration: 154'

Contact: HT Film

Episodes 1-3 will be screened.

Valeria Golino

Daughter of an Italian father and a Greek mother, Valeria Golino grew up between Athens and Naples. She started working in Athens as a model and was later discovered by the director Lina Wertmüller. She got her first leading role in 1985 with the film Little Flames and the following year she won the Coppa Volpi award at the Venice Film Festival with the film A Tale of Love by Francesco Maselli. She has been working on about twenty movies in the United States where she is best known for her performance in Rain Man (1988), The Indian Runner, and the comedy series Hot Shots! (1991) and Hot Shots! 2 (1993). In 2006, she won the David di Donatello Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Mario's War (2005) by Antonio Capuano. She won the Nastro d'Argento at the Taormina Film Festival as best actress in a leading role for Respiro (2002) by Emanuele Crialese. She has experimented with the world of music several times, lending her voice to four songs for as many films. In 2013, she made her directorial debut with the film Miele, starring Jasmine Trinca and dealing with the theme of euthanasia. The film, in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, earned a Special Mention from the Ecumenical Jury. This film also allowed her to win the Silver Ribbon for Best New Director and the Golden Globe for Best First Film. Her latest work, The Art of Joy, premiered in Cannes IFF in 2024.