GLOBAL RHYTHMS, CINEMA BELLISSIMO!, TED PEDAS AWARD

Primavera

DAMIANO MICHIELETTO
Italy, France, 2025
110 minutes, Color

In the early eighteenth century, in Venice, Italy, the fate of a virtuoso violinist named Cecilia (Tecla Insolia) is transformed when her orphanage hires an ambitious composer as the new musical instructor: Antonio Vivaldi. The young women's ensemble performances attract the attention of audiences, patrons, and even suitors, who become enchanted by their talent, believing their training will make them more virtuous wives. Without a choice at the orphanage, Cecilia is promised to a decorated army official upon his return from the battlefield. With this arranged marriage looming on the horizon, she is awakened to the power of her musical gift and its possibilities for an independent destiny. Voted as the top film by audiences at the Chicago, Gasparilla, and Palm Springs International Film Festivals, this vibrant centuries-old tale is elevated by its sumptuous costumes and lavish production design. Combining stunning visuals from cinematographer Daria D'Antonio and an unforgettable score from Fabio Massimo Capogrosso, Primavera is the directorial film debut of world-renowned stage director Michieletto.—Various sources

In Italian with English subtitles