Naples, early 1980s. The strained marriage between Aldo and Vanda is fractured one evening when Aldo admits, unprompted, his infidelity. Equally hurt and bewildered, Vanda attempts to hide her pain from the couple's two school-age kids, lest they discover that their cramped apartment is not a home of trust and love. 30 years later, Aldo and Vanda are still tied together, but their relationship with each other and their children continues to be defined by what happened all those years ago.
Acting
Four actors playing two souls across decades—casting is uncanny
Direction
Luchetti lets scenes breathe until they're suffocating
Production
Naples apartments as emotional prisons, 1980s to 2010s
Director
Daniele Luchetti
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Domenico Starnone's novel, who co-wrote the screenplay with his wife—yes, Elena Ferrante. The secrecy around her identity adds delicious irony to a film about hidden truths.
The title's Italian 'Lacci' literally means shoelaces—something that binds but also trips. The film was Italy's Oscar submission but didn't make the shortlist, perhaps too emotionally messy for Academy tastes.
IT
