Maura Delpero’s film portrays the life of a tiny mountain village, Vermiglio, in the Trentino–Alto Adige Alps during World War II. The arrival of two deserters—Attilio, who is from the village, and Pietro, from Sicily—brings the distant echo of the war into this remote and very poor community. With extraordinary sensitivity and delicacy, Delpero guides us through the everyday life of the schoolteacher’s family—he and his nine children—and their surrounding environment. Tensions and love unfold alongside the changing seasons and the villagers’ yearly rituals. The film was rightly praised. Highly recommended.
Maura Delpero’s Vermiglio wonderfully depicts a family and their village in the dying days of WWII, capturing the rhythms of daily life and the ripple effects of taking in two deserters. The village serves a as a portrait of post-war Italy at large and Mikhail Krichman’s cinematography casts it in stunning frigid beauty. The ensemble cast, especially Martina Scrinzi as the eldest daughter Lucia and Rachele Potrich as the quietly conflicted middle sister Ada, give excellent performances. Their interactions with each other, their parents, and the deserters build a compelling web of personal and collective tensions.
That said, the deliberate pacing doesn’t always work in the film’s favor. While the layers of family dynamics and glimpses of wartime trauma are thoughtfully handled, the languid unfolding of events can feel more like a test of patience than a payoff. Vermiglio excels in painting a beautifully realized portrait but struggles to sustain its narrative momentum. Worth checking out if the mood strikes you, though.
Reviews
Vermiglio
Antonio Ca' Zorzi reviewed
Vermiglio
March 24, 2026Maura Delpero’s film portrays the life of a tiny mountain village, Vermiglio, in the Trentino–Alto Adige Alps during World War II. The arrival of two deserters—Attilio, who is from the village, and Pietro, from Sicily—brings the distant echo of the war into this remote and very poor community. With extraordinary sensitivity and delicacy, Delpero guides us through the everyday life of the schoolteacher’s family—he and his nine children—and their surrounding environment. Tensions and love unfold alongside the changing seasons and the villagers’ yearly rituals. The film was rightly praised. Highly recommended.
5
1
Kevin Ward reviewed
Vermiglio
July 1, 2025Maura Delpero’s Vermiglio wonderfully depicts a family and their village in the dying days of WWII, capturing the rhythms of daily life and the ripple effects of taking in two deserters. The village serves a as a portrait of post-war Italy at large and Mikhail Krichman’s cinematography casts it in stunning frigid beauty. The ensemble cast, especially Martina Scrinzi as the eldest daughter Lucia and Rachele Potrich as the quietly conflicted middle sister Ada, give excellent performances. Their interactions with each other, their parents, and the deserters build a compelling web of personal and collective tensions.
That said, the deliberate pacing doesn’t always work in the film’s favor. While the layers of family dynamics and glimpses of wartime trauma are thoughtfully handled, the languid unfolding of events can feel more like a test of patience than a payoff. Vermiglio excels in painting a beautifully realized portrait but struggles to sustain its narrative momentum. Worth checking out if the mood strikes you, though.
