Monica Bellucci Stars in Luca Guadagnino-Produced ‘Ketticè’ at Locarno

Monica Bellucci stars as a mother in Giovanni Tortorici’s coming-of-age drama Ketticè, which premiered at the 79th Locarno Film Festival on Saturday.

The Italian film icon praised Tortorici and young stars Salvatore Gallina and Rachele Testagrossa while discussing her character, a woman who has become disconnected from her own femininity.

Produced with Luca Guadagnino among its producers, Ketticè marks Tortorici’s second feature following Diciannove. The filmmaker previously worked as an assistant to Guadagnino.

Ketticè’ Explores Youth, Freedom and Adult Judgment

Set in Palermo, Sicily, in 2012, Ketticè follows 16-year-old Giulio, a dissatisfied teenager who drifts through his days with little enthusiasm for school or a clear sense of what lies ahead.

His routine changes when he meets Ketty, a more confident peer who offers him an escape from the monotony of everyday life.

The two teenagers develop an intense friendship that becomes a private refuge as they search for freedom away from the judgment of the adult world.

Monica Bellucci Plays a Mother Under Social Pressure

Bellucci’s character represents another side of the film’s exploration of freedom and social expectations.

The actress described the character as someone who has forgotten about “her femininity,” while the film presents her as a mother who yells and is herself a “victim of a social role.”

That characterization adds another layer to Tortorici’s story, placing the frustrations of its young protagonists against the pressures experienced by the adults around them.

Giovanni Tortorici Returns With His Second Feature

Ketticè is Tortorici’s sophomore feature after Diciannove, continuing his focus on young characters navigating uncertainty, identity and the expectations surrounding them.

More in Movies

Mahershala Ali Confirms He's No Longer Starring in Marvel's Blade Reboot

Showbiz Reporter Staff / Jul 31, 2026

Barry Ward Discusses Everybody Digs Bill Evans, KVIFF and New Projects

Showbiz Reporter Staff / Jul 16, 2026

Will Ferrell Reunites With Comedy Friends for Netflix's The Hawk

Showbiz Reporter Staff / Jul 16, 2026

Steven Spielberg Pays Emotional Tribute to Late Jurassic Park Star Sam Neill

Showbiz Reporter Staff / Jul 14, 2026

The new film stars Salvatore Gallina as Giulio and Rachele Testagrossa as Ketty, whose relationship forms the emotional center of the story.

With Bellucci joining the cast and Guadagnino among the producers, the Italian production arrived at Locarno with notable creative talent attached to its second feature.