Cinema Italian Style: Paternal Leave
November 13, 2025
Torn between longing and anger, 15-year-old Leo travels to the coast of northern Italy to meet her biological father. The two are complete strangers to each other. They struggle to find truth, affinity, love and the courage to face themselves.
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Thursday, November 13, 2025
Fifteen-year-old Leo has grown up in Germany without a father. When she discovers his identity, she immediately sets out to track him down. She finds Paolo in a boarded-up beach bar on the wintry coast of northern Italy. The reunion leaves Paolo overwhelmed and conflicted. After Leo’s sudden appearance in his life, he struggles to balance his relationship between her and the family he has now. At first, Leo just wants answers. But soon, she starts to long for a place in Paolo’s life. With no money nor plans, she stays on in the small town. As they spend more time together, Leo and Paolo tentatively begin to bond and discover they have much in common. But reality inevitably catches up with them. When Paolo prioritises his younger daughter over Leo again, the latter is left hurt and angry. A confrontation lays bare their pain, apparently shattering their fragile connection. But, amid the turmoil, father and daughter begin to acknowledge their respective truths and take a small but meaningful step towards acceptance.
- Director: Alissa Jung
- Principal Cast: Juli Grabenhenrich, Luca Marinelli, Arturo Gabbriellini, Joy Falletti Cardillo, Gaia Rinaldi
- Country: Germany, Italy
- Year: 2025
- Running Time: 113 min.
- Producer: Cécile Tollu-Polonowski, Michael Weber, Viola Fügen, Sonia Rovai
- Screenplay: Alissa Jung
- Cinematographers: Carolina Steinbrecher
- Editors: Heike Parplies, David Maria Vogel
- Awards: Berlinale 2025 (AG-Kino Gilde Cinema Vision 14Plus)
- Language: Italian, English, German
- Has Subtitles: Yes