L’Accabadora, a co-production between Dublin-based Mammoth Films and Rome’s Film Kairos has earned more than €250,000 in its first weeks of release in Italy, via distributor Koch Media.
After strong reviews the film had sold-out screenings and achieved one of the highest screen averages in Italy on its opening weekend. It is now in its fifth week of release. MyMovies called it – ‘strongly original, with great visual and emotional impact’ and Film Idee said it was – ‘An important work, which powerfully and passionately explores territory rarely seen in Italian cinema.’
Set in rural Sardinia and its largest city Cagliari during the Second World War, L’Accabadora tells the story of Annetta, a woman whose fate has been written in stone since her birth. After a tragic event, when she is called upon to give her sister a ‘good death’, Annetta must confront her own fate in order to help her sister’s troubled daughter.
Irish support for the film was provided by the Irish Film Board through its creative co-production scheme. The film was directed by Sardinian Enrico Pau and stars Donatella Finocchiarro, Irish actor Barry Ward (who learnt Italian for the role) and Sara Serraiocco. Irish creative input behind the camera included producer Jane Doolan for Mammoth Films and director of photography Piers McGrail. The film features an original score by Stephen Rennicks. Sound and VFX post-production were completed at Windmill Lane with sound mixer Mark Henry and VFX supervisor Tim Chauncey.
RaiCom are selling international rights to L’Accabadora at the Cannes Film Festival Market. The film enjoyed its Irish premiere at the Glaway Film Fleadh last year.