La Grazia

What it’s about

Mariano De Santis, a former judge and devout Catholic known as "Reinforced Concrete," is nearing the end of his term as President of Italy. He must decide whether to sign a euthanasia bill. At the same time, two pardon requests land on his desk: one from an elderly man who suffocated his wife suffering from Alzheimer's, the other from a young woman who stabbed her abusive husband. De Santis, himself a widower who loved his wife deeply, has been haunted for forty years by the question of who her secret lover was.

What hooks you

Paolo Sorrentino directs Toni Servillo, who won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 2025 Venice Film Festival for this role. The film also received the Arca Cinemagiovani Award for best Italian film by the youth jury and the Brian Award at the same festival. Anna Ferzetti plays Dorotea, the president's daughter and closest aide, who brings him the euthanasia bill. The screenplay was nominated for a European Film Award.

Who it’s for

It will appeal to those who like moral dilemmas examined through a personal lens, where institutional power meets intimate doubt. It suits viewers drawn to contemplative dramas about aging, faith, and unresolved love.