Frameline47: Girls Don’t Cry

Capturing a vibrant teen romance along the back roads of the Italian countryside, this gritty but sweet coming-of-age road trip story is both cinematically gorgeous and endearingly intimate. Fueled by the loss of her father, artsy teenager Ele channels her grief into photography and fixing up the old family camper van. Desperate to return to her sister in Romania, her friend Mia becomes entangled in a violent crime. When Ele’s mother threatens to get rid of the van, together the two young women flee to the north, encountering beauty and danger in the host of characters they meet along the way. As they navigate confusion and loss, their journey takes them across rivers and borders of the heart.

In the lead roles, Emma Benini and Anastasia Doaga both embody their performances with nuance and power as they find themselves in an adventure that brings them closer to themselves and each other. Director Andrea Zuliani perfectly captures the essence of adolescent angst and self-discovery in this winning first feature.

Presented as part of Frameline47 International Film Festival.