Feeling Better (Italian: Nonostante, lit.'Despite') is a 2024 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Valerio Mastandrea from a screenplay by Mastrandea and Enrico Audenino. The film stars Mastandrea and Dolores Fonzi as a hospital patients with different perspectives on life and illness.[1]

Feeling Better
ItalianNonostante
Directed byValerio Mastandrea
Written by
  • Enrico Audenino
  • Valerio Mastandrea
Produced by
  • Viola Prestieri
  • Valeria Golino
  • Francesco Tatò
  • Oscar Glioti
  • Moreno Zani
  • Malcom Pagani
Starring
CinematographyGuido Michelotti
Edited byChiara Vullo
Music byTóti Gudnason
Production
companies
Distributed byBiM Distribuzione
Release date
Running time
93 minutes[2]
CountryItaly
LanguageItalian

Mastandrea's second feature film as director, Nonostante was selected to open the Orizzonti sidebar competition at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on 28 August 2024.[1][3]

Premise

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A man hospitalized with a long-term illness is taken out of his comfort zone by a new patient's anger about her condition.[4]

Cast

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Production

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Principal photography for Feeling Better took place between September and November 2023 in the frazioni of Fregenae and Maccarese within Fiumicino.[5] The film was shot by cinematographer Guido Michelotti and edited by Chiara Vullo.[1] Tóti Gudnason composed the original score for the film.[6]

Release

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Feeling Better premiered on 28 August 2024, where it opened the Orizzonti sidebar section of that year's Venice Film Festival.[1]

Reception

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The film has been described as "a small and surreal romantic comedy that nevertheless deviates from the usual ghost film thanks to its very original central idea",[7] and "one of the more accessible cinematic takes on existentialism", featuring "a crowd-pleasing sweep and quirky verve".[8]

Accolades

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Award Ceremony date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Venice Film Festival 07 September 2024 Orizzonti Award for Best Film Nonostante Nominated [1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Scarpa, Vittoria. "Valerio Mastandrea takes Nonostante to Venice". Cineuropa. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Nonostante". Venice Biennale Cinema 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  3. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (22 August 2024). "Venice: Fandango Takes Sales on Horizons Opener 'Feeling Better,' Reveals Moody New Clip (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  4. ^ Roxborough, Scott. "'Nonostante,' 'September 5' to Open Venice Horizons Sidebar". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Valerio Mastandrea gira sul litorale romano 'Nonostante'". Italy for Movies. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  6. ^ ""Despite", by and with Valerio Mastandrea". Rai Cultura. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  7. ^ De Marco, Camillo (29 August 2024). "Review: Feeling Better". Cineuropa. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  8. ^ Wilkinson, Amber (28 August 2024). "Feeling Better (2024) Movie Review". Eye for Film. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
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