Dafne
Palace Eastend
Lavazza Italian Film Festival
Like any child that feels the pain from the death of a parent certain adjustments need to be made as well as dealing with the grief. Dafne is a film that tells the story of middle aged down syndrome girl who’s mother has died unexpectedly and how she processes this tragedy. Father Luigi (Antonio Piovanelli) left the responsibility to his wife Maria (Stefania Casini) for Dafne’s (Carolina Raspanti) upbringing and care. Dafne though is a fiercely independent and strong-willed woman who naturally takes on the reversed role of carer for her father who doesn’t deal with his wife’s death very well.
Luigi falls into a deep depression where he regularly closes his shop early or prefers to stay in bed sleeping. Dafne on the other hand is excited to return to work where she is a shop assistant in a Co-op supermarket and is adored by work colleagues and customers alike. Her her infectious charming nature is embraced by everyone she encounters and she deals with the grief differently to her father.
The film starts off a bit slow and at times you wonder where the narrative is taking you until Dafne suggests visiting her mother’s gravesite in a remote village up in the mountains. Rather than take the car she insists they walk there. Father and daughter then go on a walking journey where they start to really appreciate their bond for one and other and the film really starts to get going with warm tender movements and harsh realisations for them both.
Dafne has many light-hearted charming moments as well as some subtle realities of down syndrome. Carolina Raspanti as Dafne is a sprinkle of joy mixed with a brush of wildfire. You soon realise that the character of Dafne isn’t one to be pitied throughout the film but more to be revered for her strength, determination and to deal with problems head on.
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