A Chiara

Following previous works Mediterranea and A Ciambra, Jonas Carpignano returns with another exploration of Calabria’s mafia underworld with A Chiara, the third chapter in the trilogy. Much like the director’s previous work, his latest feature is a highly polished and thoughtful coming-of-age tale. Whereas A Ciambra chronicled 14-year-old Pio’s trial by fire into crime, A Chiara takes a more nuanced approach to the subject matter, as viewers follow 15-year-old Chiara (Swamy Rotolo) who’s forced to make difficult decisions about her future when she discovers that her father (Claudio Rotolo) is a fugitive involved with Calabria’s ‘Ndrangheta organisation.

The film begins by establishing the close-knit relationship Chiara’s family shares. It’s her sister’s (Grecia Rotolo) 18^th birthday and celebrations are in full swing. Carpignano lingers on the festivities long enough for viewers to immerse themselves within the family’s lively atmosphere and the touching father-daughter relationship between Chiara and her dad. However, when the teenager witnesses her dad’s car being torched later that night, the filmmaker pulls the rug from under her (and viewers’) feet as the domestic bliss is torn apart.

When she eventually uncovers the truth about her father, Chiara must decide if she, too, will follow her family’s criminal path. It’s through the protagonist’s dilemma that Carpignano effectively navigates the space between familial loyalty and morality. Young Rotolo’s enigmatic performance is what keeps audiences firmly rooted in the unfolding drama. She’s a force to be reckoned with, a factor which becomes more apparent during the feature’s latter half when the character embraces her rebellious side. Though the crime aspects here are less prominent than in the director’s previous work, the mystique surrounding the father’s work adds a different flavour of grittiness to events, while giving more space to explore the main character and themes.

Though A Chiara is an expertly crafted film, it is around thirty minutes too long. Carpignano has developed a habit of letting scenes drag on longer than they should, to the point where the slow-burn pacing comes close to falling apart. Aside from this minor irritation, A Chiara is another spectacular addition to the filmmaker’s oeuvre as it marks an end to the trilogy.

Andrew Murray

A Chiara is released in select cinemas on 15^th July 2022.

Watch the trailer for A Chiara here: