Confidenza, Daniele Luchetti’s latest film, adapted from Domenico Starnone’s novel (2019), was translated as ‘trust’ for this year’s Italian Film Festival, which features an exceptional line-up. However, confidenza doesn’t mean ‘trust’ precisely and can in fact be translated in several ways depending on the context: confiding a secret (fare una confidenza), becoming familiar with something or someone (prendere confidenza), and taking liberties (prendersi confidenza). The film explores these three dimensions, which are intricately and precariously bound by trust.

Pietro (Elio Germano) is a well-respected high-school teacher whose ‘pedagogy of affection’ sits in contrast to a ‘pedagogy of fear’, and reflects a deep care for his students, who, in turn, admire him. Teresa (Federica Rosellini) is one such student: troubled, brilliant, and precocious. Pietro enters into a forbidden and tempestuous relationship with her. After an intense argument, Teresa suggests they each reveal a secret so shameful that it could ruin their lives if exposed. Following Pietro’s confession, Teresa leaves.