This is the feature directorial debut of Paola Cortellesi, who first debuted as a singer at 13 and later became an actress and screenwriter, before taking on directing at the age of 50. The film’s protagonist, Delia—played by the director herself—is a middle-aged mother suffering from domestic violence at the hands of her ex-military husband. Delia endures her war-like daily life in silence, caring for her two young sons, a daughter who is about to get engaged, and a cantankerous father-in-law who is bedridden. However, after receiving a letter, she decides to change her life. Set in 1946, the year when women’s suffrage was first implemented in Italy, this black-and-white comedy-drama in the neorealism style tackles the issues of patriarchy and domestic violence with a lighthearted touch. It became the highest-grossing Italian film of 2023, breaking all records at the Italian box office, ranking in the top 10 of all-time Italian box office hits, and becoming the most successful film directed by an Italian female director. (JO Ji-hoon)