New Italian Stories: Bellas mariposas by Salvatore Mereu
From summer 2025 through to winter, ICI London is launching a new film screening series: New Italian Stories. Conceived in collaboration with film critic Roberto Oggiano, the project showcases contemporary cinematic gems from Italy. The series aims to spotlight remarkable, and often overlooked, films that reflect the richness and evolution of Italian cinema.
Thursday 7 August 2025 at 6.30pm
In Italian with English subtitles
Bellas mariposas by Salvatore Mereu
Director: Salvatore Mereu
Writers: Sergio Atzeni, Salvatore Mereu
Cast: Sara Podda, Maya Mulas, Davide Todde
Drama/2012/102 m/colour
Bellas mariposas, based on a story by Sergio Atzeni, follows a day in Caterina’s life. It’s the 3rd of August in Via Corbaglius, Santalamenera district, outskirts of Cagliari. By 10 a.m., the sun was already merciless on Via Corbaglius, where the tarmac shimmered like a mirage and the closed shutters looked as if they were asleep. Caterina — known as Cate — shuffled along the pavement in her flip-flops, Luna by her side, a half-empty water bottle in one hand and a shared pair of earphones between them.
In the finest tradition of Italian cinema — recalling classics like Brutti, sporchi e cattivi and more recent works such as Gomorrah — Salvatore Mereu portrays poverty and hardship. Yet, through Caterina’s eyes, the film also becomes a modern take on Zazie dans le métro, brimming with youthful defiance and unwavering optimism. In addition, some dialogues are in a specific Sardinia dialect from the city of Cagliari.
Introduction and post screening discussion with Roberto Oggiano.
Book HERE
Roberto Oggiano is a film critic and film programmer. He holds a MA in Film Programming and Curation at Birkbeck College and his collaborations include Cineuropa (EN, FR, ITA, SP), Scenari (IT) and journal Cinelapsus (IT), Cinè-Lumière at the French Institute in London and Noods Radio (Bristol, UK).