SYNOPSIS

Elisa, 35, has been in prison for over ten years, convicted of murdering her older sister and burning her body—seemingly without motive. She claims to remember little or nothing of the crime, as if she had drawn a veil of silence between herself and the past. But when she agrees to meet criminologist Alaoui and take part in his research, memories begin to resurface. In confronting the pain of fully acknowledging her guilt, Elisa may glimpse the first step toward a possible redemption.

DIRECTOR'S NOTES

The idea for the film was born during the writing and production of Ariaferma, my previous film, and somehow, it represents a continuation of it. While Ariaferma was a film about relationships within prison walls, deliberately leaving the crimes committed by the inmates off-screen, Elisa is instead the story of an inner journey — that of a woman who has committed an act of extreme violence. The film is inspired by the studies of criminologists Adolfo Ceretti and Lorenzo Natali, who have been conducting research on violent behaviours and the perpetrators of heinous crimes for years — including those, as in this case, that do not stem from social marginalization or psychiatric disorders. Crimes that deeply disturb the collective imagination precisely because they are committed by seemingly unremarkable individuals: a quiet couple, a well-mannered person, an ordinary neighbour.

Elisa is a character of whom we sense the suffering, but also her coldness and her ability to manipulate those that are close to her. As we follow her story, we find ourselves oscillating between understanding her inner transformation and a profound rejection of someone capable of such an extreme act.

BIO

After completing his studies in ethno-anthropology at the University of Naples, he moved to Paris in 1992 and established a solid career in documentary filmmaking, earning recognition at numerous international film festivals. His first fiction feature L’intervallo (Venice), won the David di Donatello Award for Best Debut. L’intrusa, his second fiction film, was selected for Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes. With L’avamposto, he participated in the collective film Les ponts de Sarajevo, presented as a Special Screening at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2021, he premiered Ariaferma out of competition at Venice, which went on to win two David di Donatello Awards and was named “Film of the Year” by Italian critics (SNCCI). His latest film, Elisa, is in official competition at Venice 82.

Filmografia:
2025, ELISA
2023, WELCOME TO PARADISE (short film)
2021, ARIAFERMA
2017, L’INTRUSA
2014, L’AVAMPOSTO (episodio del film collettivo Les ponts de Sarajevo)
2012, L’INTERVALLO
2011, CADENZA D’INGANNO (documentary)
2006, ODESSA (documentary, co-directed with Bruno Oliviero)
2003, A SCUOLA (documentary)
1999, PROVE DI STATO (documentary)

CAST

Elisa BARBARA RONCHI
Alaoui ROSCHDY ZEM
Padre DIEGO RIBON
Laura VALERIA GOLINO
Radice GIORGIO MONTANINI
Direttore HIPPOLYTE GIRARDOT
Madre MONICA CODENA
Katia ROBERTA DA SOLLER
Franck MARCO BRINZI
Karbusi NADIA KIBOUT
Yang JOSEPHA YANG
Gendarme FEDERICO DI COSTANZO
Djallo ADELINE TAYORO
Medico ANTONIO BUIL
Vicina JASMIN MATTEI
Giudice ROBERTA FOSSILE