Caro mondo crudele film set in Maremma features Zerocalcare animation

The film ‘Caro mondo crudele’, directed by Niccolò Falsetti and co-written with Francesco Turbanti, is being released in theaters. Set in Albinia, near Orbetello in the Maremma region during the summer of 1999, the story follows 12-year-old Giovanna as she navigates the complexities of preadolescence.

The narrative centers on Giovanna’s search for her best friend, Mirko, who has disappeared. The film utilizes a hybrid structure, incorporating animated sequences designed by Zerocalcare to represent the protagonist’s internal world and her memories of her deceased father, whom she imagines as a manga-style hero.

Described as a coming-of-age tale with melancholic and ironic tones, the film explores the disconnect between children and adults. It captures the final era of the analog age before the widespread influence of digital technology and the internet.