18/11/2025 - Valerio Mastandrea, Francesco Gheghi and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi topline Stefano Grasso’s debut feature about a young screenwriter managing a difficult relationship with his father

Principal photography on Gli ultimi giorni di vita di Leonardo Revelli, figlio unico has wrapped in Turin, after a four-week shoot that began on 20 October. It marks the feature film debut of Stefano Grasso, a screenwriter who was a finalist for the 2010 Premio Solinas with Più buio di mezzanotte non può fare, which later became a 2014 film directed by Sebastiano Riso, whose English title is Darker Than Midnight [+see also:
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Written by Stefano Grasso, Massimo Gaudioso, Giuditta Avossa and Caterina Venturini, the film stars one of the most recognisable faces in Italian cinema, Valerio Mastandrea, a four-time David di Donatello winner for The First Beautiful Thing [+see also:
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film profile], Long Live Freedom [+see also:
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interview: Roberto Andò
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Q&A: Claudio Giovannesi
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film profile]. He’s joined by young Francesco Gheghi, who was the break-out star of the Venice Film Festival last year, where he won the Orizzonti Award for Best Actor via Familia [+see also:
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interview: Paolo Virzì
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Q&A: Paolo Virzì
film profile], and one Best Supporting Actress trophy for The Art of Joy [+see also:
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The film follows Leonardo Revelli who has everything he needs to be happy: the first film he wrote is about to hit cinemas, he’s in love with a French girl who loves him back, and he has two parents who have always made him feel special. So special, in fact, that Leonardo has ended up believing it. Prominent psychoanalysts in Turin, Giovanni and Laura have created a family unit for their son based on a very particular idea: mediocrity of any kind is not tolerated and pain is not allowed. When Laura is struck down by a serious illness, her husband sinks unrecognisably into despair. Stripped of all inhibitions, he shows himself for what he really is: a misfit both in his practical and emotional lives. Leonardo suddenly finds himself without certainties or bearings, in a two-way relationship with his father which shows that he’s just like everyone else. 

The crew includes cinematographer Luca Bigazzi, editor Stefano Cravero and production designer Alessandra Mura. Costumes are by Silvia Nebiolo while the film’s original score comes courtesy of Giulia Tagliavia.

Gli ultimi giorni di vita di Leonardo Revelli, figlio unico is being produced by Andrea Occhipinti for Lucky Red and by Alessandro Giacobbe for Academy Two in league with RAI Cinema, with the support of the Film Commission Torino Piemonte and with backing from the Italian Ministry of Culture’s Film and Audiovisual Investment Development Fund. Italian distribution will be handled by Vision Distribution with world sales falling to Vision Distribution and True Colours.

(Translated from Italian)