Respiro (2002)
Release Year: 2002
Alternative Title: Respiro: Grazia's Island
Director: Emanuele Crialese
Writer: Emanuele Crialese
Production & Genre
Awards & Similar
Awards:
Similar:
Keywords
Keywords: husband wife relationship, island, mediterranean, underdog, villager
Story
Grazia, a free-spirited mother of three, lives with her husband Pietro and their family on the isolated island of Lampedusa. She exhibits signs of manic depression, switching rapidly between joyful, even erratic behavior and periods of intense melancholy. While Grazia is happy living on the island, Pietro begins to worry about his wife's mental state, discussing with family members the possibility of sending her to a psychiatric institute in Milan against her will. Their young son Pasquale understands his mother's moods better than anyone else and becomes determined to prevent his father from taking this drastic action.
Summary
Respiro (2002), directed by Emanuele Crialese, is a poignant drama set on the idyllic but isolated Mediterranean island of Lampedusa. The film explores the complex dynamics between Grazia, a spirited woman struggling with bipolar disorder, and her husband Pietro, who grapples with how to care for his wife in their remote, traditional community. At its core, 'Respiro' is an intimate portrait of a family's resilience amidst mental health struggles, seen through the lens of Italian rural life.
