Santa guerra – Holy war

Santa guerra – Holy War is a 2022 film directed by Samantha Casella.

Santa guerra – Holy war
Eugenia Costantini in a scene from the film
Directed bySamantha Casella
Written bySamantha Casella, Antonio Micciulli
Screenplay bySamantha Casella
Starring
  • Eugenia Costantini: Woman
  • Emma Quartullo: Woman in ghostly house
  • Ekaterina Buscemi: Woman wanders in Hades
  • Samantha Casella: Ghost / Ananke
  • Maria Grazia Cucinotta: Moira Cloto
  • Simona Lisi: Moira Lachesi
  • Chioma Ukwu: Moira Atropo
  • Isabella Tedesco: Fortune-seller
  • Diego Pagotto: Ade
CinematographySamantha Casella
Edited byPaola Merisi
Music byEnrico Maria Paolillo
Production
company
The Shadows Factory
Release date
  • 2022 (2022)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryItaly
LanguageIT

Plot

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A woman falls down into a timeless place where her subconscious tries to process the trauma that crushes her. While a part of herself is stucked in a ghostly mansion and her double wanders in an ancestral place, the woman will reach a painful awareness.

Cast

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The absolute protagonist is played by Eugenia Costantini. The film also represents the debut of Emma Quartullo, daughter of the actress Elena Sofia Ricci and the director Pino Quartullo. The director, Samatha Casella played a ghost who on a symbolic level represents the protagonist's sense of guilt. Also present in the cast are Ekaterina Buscemi, Simona Lisi and Maria Grazia Cucinotta in a new and mythological role: a moira.

Reception

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Presented as a special event during the 79° Festival del Cinema di Venezia[1] Santa guerra – Holy War has participated in numerous international festivals, winning over 500 awards in 55 different countries. Since September 2023 it has been in the Prime Video Italian catalogue.[citation needed]

Critical response

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Santa guerra – Holy War was received favorably by critics.[2][3] In the magazine and newspaper, Nocturno, the film received a 5-star rating.[4] Editor Davide Comotti defined it as "a film about human pain; experimental that teems with artistic fury, with the Dionysian power of images and gloomy music combined with the Apollonian rigor of colorful photography and staging". Positive reviews also came from Massimo Nardin on Il profumo della voce vita, Enrico Maria Prati on Meer[5] and Enzo Latronico on The Way Magazine.[6]

The review on International Motion Pictures Awards is indicative: "Santa Guerra travels between modern theatrical experiences and silver screen presentations bringing unique and hybrid experiences, incorporating elements of both traditional movie-making and modern theater style, creating an immersive and captivating experience for audiences".[7]

Note

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  1. ^ Massari, Federica (13 September 2022). "Venezia 79, Santa guerra di Samantha Casella insignito di due importanti premi". Futuranews. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Samantha Casella – Interview". Florence Film Awards. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  3. ^ Dutta, Anushka (27 February 2023). "Santa guerra". Cult Critic. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  4. ^ Comotti, Davide. "Santa guerra: la rencensione". Nocturno. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  5. ^ Prati, Giacomo Maria (28 September 2022). "La "Santa guerra" dell'arte". Meer. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  6. ^ Latronico, Enzo (16 November 2022). "Samantha Casella: "Il mio lungometraggio al femminile"". The Way Magazine. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  7. ^ HK, Man (3 March 2023). "Santa guerra (2022)". International Motion Picture Awards. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
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