Salvo

Country: Italy/France Year: 2013 Duration: 104 mins Language: Italian with English subtitles Genre Drama/Thriller/Romance Director: Fabio Grassadonia, Antonio Piazza Cast: Saleh Bakri, Luigi Lo Cascio, Sara Serraiocco

A henchman for the Sicilian Mafia, Salvo is solitary, cold and ruthless in this Italian film noir, which won the Critic’s Week Grand Prix at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

After being ambushed by a rival Mafia clan, and winning the shootout, Salvo sneaks into the house of one of the last members to finish the job. Upon entry he discovers Rita, a beautiful, young blind girl who powerlessly stands by while he assassinates her brother. After sparing Rita’s life, Salvo escorts her to an abandoned factory where she is held captive. He battles with his duty to dispose of this witness while his fascination with her grows. An intense part-miracle results in what will be an unbreakable bond between the two.

Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri (The Time That Remains, The Band’s Visit) offers a captivating stand-out performance as the supposedly steely mafia assassin in Sicilian filmmakers Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza’s astonishing part-action, part-thriller.

Australian Premiere
AWARDS / FESTIVALS:
2013 Cannes Film Festival - Critics Week Grand Prize, France 4 Visionary Award (winner)
All non-English language films will screen in the festival with English subtitles.