Based on the play by Franca Rame and Dario Fo, The Open Couple by Federica Di Giacomo, which opened the Giornate degli autori at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, is a film about the desire for happiness. Taking the perspective of “whatever works - as long as it works”, it is an exploration of the forms and types of love in the contemporary world, examined by the protagonist’s ironic and curious gaze.
Chiara, a successful actress and writer, has been performing ‘The Open Couple’ on stage for years; recounting the eternal fairy tale, or martyrdom, of love, between a couple and when there are many more involved. The play tells the story of the evolution of Antonia (the character created by Franca Rame) whose husband forces her into an open relationship, thereby changing their codes of conduct. Antonia accepts because she is afraid of losing her man. But everything changes when she begins to listen to herself and look beyond the sofa at home. Chiara/Antonia – torn between her partner Fredrik and her on-stage and romantic partner, Alessandro – decides to explore the contemporary universe of the polyamorous, the young - and not so young - fighting the concept of monogamy, the feminists and sex parties (the evolution of the “open couple” of the 70s) where she meets Sara, Daniele, Efrem and Ali, who live happily in a polyamorous polycule.
The cast includes Chiara Francini, Alessandro Federico, Karl Gustaf Fredrik Lundqvist, Sara Girelli, Chloe Gatti, Daniele Gatti, Efrem Sposini, Giancarlo Francini, Sara Rastrelli, playing themselves.
The film was shot almost entirely in Rome, with scenes in various theatres – Argot (Rome), La Pergola (Florence), Politeama Genovese (Genoa), Toniolo (Venice) – and a few days of filming in Vicenza.
Based on the play by Franca Rame and Dario Fo, The Open Couple by Federica Di Giacomo, which opened the Giornate degli autori at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, is a film about the desire for happiness. Taking the perspective of “whatever works - as long as it works”, it is an exploration of the forms and types of love in the contemporary world, examined by the protagonist’s ironic and curious gaze.
Chiara, a successful actress and writer, has been performing ‘The Open Couple’ on stage for years; recounting the eternal fairy tale, or martyrdom, of love, between a couple and when there are many more involved. The play tells the story of the evolution of Antonia (the character created by Franca Rame) whose husband forces her into an open relationship, thereby changing their codes of conduct. Antonia accepts because she is afraid of losing her man. But everything changes when she begins to listen to herself and look beyond the sofa at home. Chiara/Antonia – torn between her partner Fredrik and her on-stage and romantic partner, Alessandro – decides to explore the contemporary universe of the polyamorous, the young - and not so young - fighting the concept of monogamy, the feminists and sex parties (the evolution of the “open couple” of the 70s) where she meets Sara, Daniele, Efrem and Ali, who live happily in a polyamorous polycule.
The cast includes Chiara Francini, Alessandro Federico, Karl Gustaf Fredrik Lundqvist, Sara Girelli, Chloe Gatti, Daniele Gatti, Efrem Sposini, Giancarlo Francini, Sara Rastrelli, playing themselves.
The film was shot almost entirely in Rome, with scenes in various theatres – Argot (Rome), La Pergola (Florence), Politeama Genovese (Genoa), Toniolo (Venice) – and a few days of filming in Vicenza.
Nemesis, Ballandi, Rai Cinema
Chiara, a successful actress and writer, has been performing ‘The Open Couple’ on stage for years; recounting the eternal fairy tale, or martyrdom, of love, between two – or more - people. It is the story of the evolution of Antonia (the character created by Franca Rame) whose husband forces her into an open relationship, thereby changing their codes of conduct. Antonia accepts because she is afraid of losing her man. But everything changes when she begins to listen to herself and look beyond the sofa at home.
