Angelina Jolie’s ‘Without Blood’ explores trauma and friendship

Angelina Jolie’s sixth directorial feature, ‘Without Blood’, has been released in theaters. Adapted from Alessandro Baricco’s novella ‘Senza Sangue’, the 91-minute drama stars Salma Hayek Pinault and Demián Bichir. The film explores themes of war crimes, trauma, and memory through the story of two survivors, Nina and Tito, who reunite decades after a violent event.

The production has highlighted a deep personal connection between Jolie and Hayek. While the two first met during the filming of ‘Eternals’, their friendship intensified during the emotionally demanding shoot for ‘Without Blood’. Hayek described the experience as transformative, noting that Jolie’s direction pushed her to explore personal and character-driven depths.

Critical reception of the film has been divided. While some praise the intense performances and theatricality, others find the fable-like storytelling struggles to support its heavy subject matter. Jolie’s decision to omit specific political identifiers and dates has also been a point of discussion regarding the film's universal framing of violence and forgiveness.