Puccini and the Young Girl (2008)

Genres - Drama  |   Run Time - 84 min.  |   Countries - Italy  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Mark Deming

A true story from the life of the great Italian composer Giacomo Puccini provides the basis for this historical drama from writer and director Paolo Benvenuti. In 1909, Puccini (Riccardo J. Moretti) was hard at work on "La Fanciulla del West" when he found himself in the center of a scandal after the death of his housekeeper Doria (Tania Squillario). The story began when Doria entered the room of Puccini's teenage stepdaughter Fosca (Debora Mattiello) and found her in bed with her boyfriend. Eager to silence Doria before she tells anyone what she's seen, Fosca goes to her mother Elvira (Giovanna Daddi) and tells her that she's certain the housekeeper has been sleeping with Puccini on the sly. While Elvira's suspicions that her husband has been unfaithful are soon confirmed, the truth is that Puccini is having an affair with a barmaid named Giulia (Federica Chezzi), not Doria. But Doria bears a certain resemblance to Giulia, and she now finds herself blamed for an indiscretion for which she's blameless. Puccini e la Fanciulla (aka Puccini and the Girl) was an official selection at the 2008 Venice Film Festival.