VISION DISTRIBUTION, FANDANGO and NIGHTSWIM
Present
(LA VALLE DEI SORRISI)
a film by
Paolo Strippoli
starring
Michele Riondino, Paolo Pierobon, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Sergio Romano, Anna Bellato, Sandra Toffolatti, Roberto Citran and introducing Giulio Feltri
An Italy-Slovenia coproduction between
FANDANGO, VISION DISTRIBUTION and NIGHTSWIM with SPOK
in collaboration with SKY
Produced by
Domenico Procacci and Laura Paolucci
Ines Vasilevic and Stefano Sardo
Co-Produced by
Jožko Rutar and Miha Černec
with the support of REGIONE LAZIO Avviso pubblico Lazio Cinema International – PR FESR LAZIO 2021-2027 Progetto cofinanziato dall’Unione Europea
with the participation of FVG Film Commission – PromoTurismoFVG
Director
PAOLO STRIPPOLI
Based on the screenplay “L’angelo infelice”, winner of the 2019 Solinas Prize by
JACOPO DEL GIUDICE, PAOLO STRIPPOLI, MILO TISSONE
Screenplay
JACOPO DEL GIUDICE, PAOLO STRIPPOLI, MILO TISSONE
Director of Photography
CRISTIANO DI NICOLA
Editor
FEDERICO PALMERINI
Scenografia
MARCELLO DI CARLO
Costumes
SUSANNA MASTROIANNI
Make-Up Artist
VALENTINA TOMLJANOVIC, ANDREA LEANZA, DENISE BOCCACCI
Hair Stylist
ARIANNA PALMUCCI
Casting
ANNA PENNELLA (UICD)
Sound
FRANCESCO MOROSINI
Original Music
FEDERICO BISOZZI, DAVIDE TOMAT
Assistant Director
GIAIME GRECO
Production Manager
ELIA MAZZONI
Executive Producers
IVAN FIORINI e ATTILIO MORO
Produced by
DOMENICO PROCACCI and LAURA PAOLUCCI
INES VASILEVIC and STEFANO SARDO
Co-Produced by
JOŽKO RUTAR and MIHA ČERNEC
A production of
FANDANGO, VISION DISTRIBUTION and NIGHTSWIM
with SPOK
in collaboration with
SKY
International Sales
FANDANGO SALES
Italian Distribution
VISION DISTRIBUTION
Runtime:122 min.
SYNOPSIS
When Sergio, a teacher tormented by his past, is transferred to Remis, a secluded village known as the happiest town in Italy, it seems the perfect place for a new start. But Sergio soon discovers that behind the town’s joyful facade lies a dark and disturbing secret. Each week, the villagers gather to meet Matteo, an introverted fifteen-year old. They say Matteo is an angel whose embrace can free one of all pain and sorrow. But as Sergio realizes the village’s relationship to the young man is not as benevolent as it seems, his attempt to save Matteo awakens the darker side of the community, and the boy everyone calls the angel of Remis.
THE HOLY BOY will be world premiering at the Venice Film Festival as a Midnight Screening, which was also just announced as part of the Fantastic Fest Line Up last week: THE HOLY BOY by Paolo Strippoli (Netflix’s A CLASSIC HORROR STORY, FLOWING) is an elevated genre film crossed with a coming of age set in a seemingly idyllic community – where pain is forbidden and happiness is a religion. This is one of the rare midnight screenings and genre titles programmed in the official selection of the Venice Film Festival.
