Automatische concepten

English summary

This award-winning and surprising Italian tragicomedy by director/writer Emma Dante is about two intransigent women who literally won’t step aside for one another. A street in Palermo is the arena for the drama, the local residents are the audience.

Two young women (Rosa and Clara) are travelling by car to a wedding in Palermo. Distracted by their own arguing, they turn into an narrow, unfamiliar side street and find their way blocked by an oncoming car. This is packed to the rafters with a family from the neighbourhood. Grandmother Samira (Elena Cotta) is driving. Both drivers refuse to reverse and let the other car pass. In no-time the incident provokes a real, typically Italian riot. And this is just the start of a hilarious duel. The two women refuse to eat, drink or sleep until the other capitulates…

The simple storyline showcases Italian etiquette and is metaphorical and a little bit surreal. The layers of meaning gives the film added sparkle. The 82-year-old Elena Cotta delivers a phenomenal performance in the role of grandmother Samira. She is the epitome of fragility when she walks, but behind the wheel her stare is powerful and her expression is deadpan. Dante wrote the screenplay, basing it on her own novel Via Castellana Bandiera. In addition, she plays the role of Rosa. The film won five major awards at the Venice Film Festival, including the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress.