Italy | Switzerland 2024
Opening August 29, 2024

Directed by: Margherita Vicario
Writing credits: Anita Rivaroli, Margherita Vicario
Principal cast: Galatéa Bellugi, Carlotta Gamba, Veronica Lucchesi

Delightful music enmeshed in an uplifting historical fantasy in early nineteenth century Venice brings this film to life. Servant girl Teresa (Galatéa Bellugi) is a maid to young ladies her own age at Sant’Ignazio Institute, a musical school/orphanage for young women. There is something melancholy about Teresa, a little Cinderella-esque. She is named “The Mute” as she never speaks a word. Yet the viewer is let in on a secret right from the start. Symphonies are always dancing around in Teresa’s head. In the opening scene, as she sits in the courtyard peeling potatoes, the cacophony of sounds—the clucking of chickens, the sounds of clothes being scrubbed by her fellow servants—are music to her ears. That is not Teresa’s only secret, which is slowly, not unexpectantly revealed.

Choirmaster Perlina (Paolo Rossi) is quite a pathetic, unattractive elderly man. He constantly berates the all-female orchestra who perform at Mass for the congregation while dreaming of his clandestine boyfriend. The young ladies are a talented group of musicians headed by arrogant Lucia (Carlotta Gamba) who has plans to escape with her boyfriend and start a music career in France. Bettina (Veronica Lucchesi), Marietta (Maria Vittoria Dallasta), and Prudenza (Sara Mafodda) are much kinder to servant girl Teresa with no inkling she is a musical prodigy. One day while cleaning, Teresa discovers a pianoforte hidden by Perlina in the cellar and makes nocturnal visits to play it. The four musicians waking up to magical sounds tiptoe to the cellar to join her and are absolutely astounded by the music that comes from her fingertips. Lucia initially scoffs at Teresa’s compositions as the two vie for dominance. But soon she too embraces the delightful music which is definitely at least one hundred and fifty years ahead of its time. When His Holiness Pope Pius VII comes to the institute for a visit, he, along with choirmaster Perlina and the entire congregation, are treated to a symphony which might have left Vivaldi humming in his grave. A scene reminiscent of Sister Act (1992) may flash before the viewer’s eyes. But that would quickly fade as musical pandemonium explodes when the all-women’s orchestra really lets loose. (Pat F.)