Duse (film)
| Duse | |
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 Italian theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Pietro Marcello |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Marco Graziaplena |
| Edited by |
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| Music by |
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Production companies |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 122 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Italian |
| Budget | €7.6 million[citation needed] |
| Box office | €1.2 million |
Duse is a 2025 biographical drama film directed by Pietro Marcello, co-written by Marcello, Letizia Russo and Guido Silei.[1] Starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi in the titular role, it follows the life of Italian stage actress Eleonora Duse prior to the World War I, and the abrupt societal changes caused by the conflict.[3][4]
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 3 September 2025, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion.[5] It was theatrically released in Italy by PiperFilm on 18 September,[6] and in France by Ad Vitam on 14 January 2026.[7]
Premise
[edit]In the wake of the First World War, former actress Eleonora Duse makes a return to the stage, contending with the limits of her own body as well as realities of power at odds with her utopian ideals.[3]
Cast
[edit]- Valeria Bruni Tedeschi as Eleonora Duse
- Noémie Merlant as Enrichetta Checchi, Duse's daughter
- Mimmo Borrelli as Ermete Zacconi
- Edoardo Sorgente as Giacomo Rossetti
- Fausto Russo Alesi as Gabriele D'Annunzio
- Marcello Mazzarella as Mariano Fortuny
- Fanni Wrochna as Désirée Von Wertheimstein
- Vincenzo Pirrotta as Benito Mussolini
- Noémie Lvovsky as Sarah Bernhardt
- Vincenzo Nemolato as Memo Benassi
- Federico Pacifici as Saturnino Ciarcelluti
- Vincenza Modica as Matilde Serao
- Savino Paparella as Luciano Nicastrelli
- Gaja Masciale as Cecilia Rinaldi
- Stefano Rosato
Production
[edit]It was produced through Palomar, Avventurosa, Rai Cinema and PiperFilm. In co-production with Ad Vitam.[8] In collaboration with Berta Film and Netflix. Supported by the Ministero della Cultura (MiC), Regione del Veneto, Veneto Film Commission, Regione Lazio and Creative Europe Media.
Principal photography began on 4 March 2024, shooting on location in Viterbo.[9][10] Some scenes were filmed in Venice, in particular at the Teatro La Fenice. By May Variety reported that production was still underway.[3]
Italian cinematographer Marco Graziaplena shot the film in Super16 and 35mm, using various cameras. Alongside Marcello's traditional use of archival footage.[11]
The Match Factory opened Duse to international pre-sale at the Marché du Film during the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.[4]
Reception
[edit]Box office
[edit]It grossed $1.2 million in its theatrical release in Italy and France.[12]
Critical responde
[edit]Damon Wise for Deadline writes that the film is "handsome but very culturally specific" and seems to contain an "unintentional streak of camp."[13]
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venice International Film Festival | September 6, 2025 | Golden Lion | Pietro Marcello | Nominated | [14] |
See also
[edit]- Eleonora Duse, a 1947 Italian biographical film
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Duse". Film Italia. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ↑ "Pietro Marcello's new movie Duse is selected for Venice". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 2025-07-23. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- 1 2 3 Vivarelli, Nick; Keslassy, Elsa. "Pietro Marcello Shooting 'Duse' With Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Noémie Merlant, the Match Factory Handling Sales". Variety. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- 1 2 Lemercier, Fabien; Abbatescianni, Davide; Economou, Vassilis (22 May 2024). "The announcements made at Cannes' Marché du Film". Cineuropa. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ↑ "Biennale Cinema 2025 | Duse". La Biennale di Venezia. 2025-07-14. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ↑ ""Duse" di Pietro Marcello - Cinema". Rai Cultura (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ↑ "Valeria Bruni Tedeschi et Pietro Marcello pour "Eleonora Duse"". France Inter (in French). 2026-01-08. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ↑ "Duse". TIFF.net. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ↑ "Pietro Marcello gira 'Duse' con Valeria Bruni Tedeschi". Cinecittà News. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ↑ "Film su Eleonora Duse, set blindatissimo al teatro dell'Unione con Valeria Bruni Tedeschi". Viterbo Today. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ↑ "Duse". TIFF.net. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ↑ "Duse". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ Wise, Damon (2025-09-04). "'Duse' Review: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi Lights Up This Twilight Tale Of A Fading Italian Stage Legend – Venice Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ Shafer, Nick Vivarelli, Ellise (2025-07-22). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein,' Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Bugonia' With Emma Stone, Benny Safdie's 'Smashing Machine,' Luca Guadagnino's 'After the Hunt' and More". Variety. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
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