New Movies: Diva Futura (2024) by Giulia Louise Steigerwalt: Behind the Veil of Italian Porn's Golden Age

"Diva Futura" is a compelling Italian drama directed by Giulia Louise Steigerwalt, known for her debut feature September. Premiering in competition at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in September 2024, the film delves into the fascinating and controversial world of Riccardo Schicchi's "Diva Futura" agency, which redefined Italian mass culture by transforming the concept of free love into the burgeoning porn industry of the 1980s and 90s. The narrative, told through the eyes of the agency's secretary, Debora, explores the lives of iconic figures like Ilona Staller (Cicciolina) and Moana Pozzi, examining the intersection of pornography, celebrity, politics, and the complex realities faced by the women involved.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31105878/

Link Review: https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/466694/

About movie: https://groenlandiagroup.com/portfolio/diva-futura/

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/it/film/diva-futura (Italy)

Detailed Summary

Set in Italy during the 1980s and 1990s, "Diva Futura" chronicles the rise of Riccardo Schicchi's eponymous agency, which revolutionized popular culture by turning the era's concept of free love into a new phenomenon: pornography. The film's narrative unfolds through the perspective of Debora Attanasio (Barbara Ronchi), a young, somewhat "wall-flower" secretary who joins the agency to pay off a mortgage, expecting a temporary job but ultimately staying for a decade, finding a peculiar second family.

Under Schicchi's (Pietro Castellitto) charismatic, often neurotic, guidance, "girls next door" like Ilona Staller (Cicciolina) and Moana Pozzi (Denise Capezza) transform into world-famous divas. Their fame is amplified by the boom of private television and VCRs, bringing "pornstars" into Italian homes. The film explores the profound media impact of Diva Futura, which even led to Cicciolina's election to Parliament and Moana Pozzi's mayoral run in Rome.

"Diva Futura" is based on Debora Attanasio's memoir and aims to dismantle common porn clichés. It humanizes the women involved, delving into their personal crises, struggles, and the double standards they faced, both within the industry and when attempting to pursue other careers. The film, while dealing with serious themes and personal tragedies, maintains a darkly comic and satirical tone, often through Castellitto's portrayal of Schicchi. It also attempts to depict the era's retro aesthetic and intimate scenes with a "female gaze." Despite some chronological jumps that can make it tricky to follow, the film offers an emotional and nuanced look at an infamous period, going beyond the sensationalism to illuminate the complex lives of the people behind the studio.

Plot Summary (Bullets)

• Rise of an Empire: In 1980s-90s Italy, Riccardo Schicchi establishes "Diva Futura," revolutionizing porn and Italian culture.

• Secretary's Perspective: The story is told through the eyes of Debora, a "normal" secretary who becomes an long-term employee.

• Iconic Stars Emerge: Women like Cicciolina and Moana Pozzi gain widespread fame and media influence.

• Pornography's Social Impact: The film shows the industry's influence extending to politics, with porn stars seeking public office.

• Humanizing the Stars: It explores the personal lives, struggles, and double standards faced by the women behind the public personas.

• Dark Comedy & Ethics: The narrative balances humor with a critical look at the industry's controversies and the commodification of the female body.

Director's Vision

Giulia Louise Steigerwalt's vision for Diva Futura is to offer an impartial portrait of a controversial era, particularly the birth of the Italian porn industry in the 80s and 90s. She aimed to tell this story, based on secretary Debora Attanasio's memoir, from an unexpected perspective, challenging preconceived notions. Steigerwalt was drawn to exploring how the studio, and Schicchi himself, were often the opposite of the exploitative environments one might imagine, especially compared to the industry today.

Her intention is to blend dark humor, satire, and a "female gaze" to depict intimate scenes with care. The director highlights the contradiction at the heart of the "Diva Futura" phenomenon: while its figures seemed to fight for freedom, their work paradoxically contributed to normalizing the commodification of the female body. Steigerwalt hoped the film would prompt conversations about the current state of the porn industry. She aimed to capture the "brisk retro" sense of freedom of the era while subtly critiquing societal hypocrisy.

Themes

• The Porn Industry and Culture: A historical exploration of the birth and evolution of Italian pornography and its impact on mass culture and social mores.

• Fame and Exploitation: The film examines the rapid rise to celebrity for its stars and the often complex, contradictory nature of their fame, touching upon implicit exploitation and lasting stigma.

• Identity and Public Persona: The struggle of individuals, particularly the women, to define themselves beyond their public "pornstar" identities and the limitations they faced.

• Freedom vs. Commodification: A central paradox where the idea of "free love" is shown to evolve into the commodification of the female body, raising questions about genuine liberation.

• Memory and Perspective: The narrative is shaped by Debora's personal experience, offering a specific lens on a controversial history, highlighting how individual memories contribute to collective understanding.

• Societal Hypocrisy: The film subtly critiques the double standards applied to those in the porn industry, especially women, by a society that both consumes and condemns their work.

Key Success Factors

• Compelling Subject Matter: The film tackles a fascinating and controversial period in Italian cultural history, offering a unique look at the porn industry's origins and its celebrity figures.

• Acclaimed Director: Giulia Louise Steigerwalt, following her successful debut September, brings a fresh and nuanced perspective to a complex topic.

• Female Gaze and Nuance: The commitment to telling the story through a "female gaze" and from the perspective of a secretary offers a less exploitative, more humanized approach.

• Strong Cast: Featuring talented actors like Pietro Castellitto (Riccardo Schicchi) and Barbara Ronchi (Debora Attanasio), providing compelling performances.

• Festival Premiere: Its selection for the main competition at the Venice Film Festival immediately garnered significant critical attention and prestige.

• Blend of Genres: The film's mix of drama, dark comedy, and biographical elements appeals to a broad audience interested in cultural history and human stories.

Summary Short

Giulia Louise Steigerwalt's "Diva Futura" (2024) is an Italian drama chronicling the rise of Riccardo Schicchi's pioneering porn agency in the 1980s-90s, seen through his secretary's eyes. Premiering at Venice, it explores how figures like Cicciolina and Moana Pozzi became cultural icons, blending dark humor with a nuanced look at fame, exploitation, and societal contradictions in Italy's porn industry.

Awards and Nominations (Summary in words)

"Diva Futura" premiered in the main competition at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in September 2024, where it received a nomination for the prestigious Golden Lion for Best Film.

Critics Reception (Use Google Search, mention sites, summary of review for each site, add overall summary)

"Diva Futura" has received a mixed to positive reception from critics.

• IONCINEMA.com: Described the subject matter as "formidably compelling" but noted the film sometimes struggles to shift tone from frivolity to tragedy. They highlighted the film's attempts to negotiate double standards for women in porn but felt it was unclear about its ultimate sentiments regarding Schicchi's "erotic art." Praised Denise Capezza as Moana Pozzi for her "most well-rounded characterization."

• Fred Film Radio (Interview with director): An interview with Steigerwalt highlighted the film as a "darkly comic, satirical look" at the industry's beginnings. The director emphasized telling the story from Debora's perspective, challenging the idea of an exploitative environment, and hoping to prompt conversation about the industry's current state.

• NSS Magazine: Praised the film for going "beyond the sex" to illuminate the lives of the people behind the studio, finding it an "emotional look into the industry" that balances serious and humorous tones well. However, they noted "clunky editing and time jumps" that made the story hard to follow at times, giving it a 7/10.

• IMDb (User Review): One user review from Bulgaria was quite negative, finding the acting "remarkably boring," the pacing "awkwardly silent," and the chronological jumps confusing, stating "you can't follow the idea of the story at all."

Overall Summary: Critics acknowledge "Diva Futura"'s compelling and significant subject matter, particularly its attempt to humanize the figures of Italy's early porn industry through a nuanced lens. The film's blend of dark humor and its aim for a "female gaze" are noted. However, some reviews point to structural issues, particularly with time jumps and inconsistent pacing, which can hinder the narrative flow. Its overall reception seems to be that of an ambitious but occasionally uneven historical drama.

Reviews (Overall Summary)

Reviews for "Diva Futura" indicate a film that is both ambitious and somewhat divisive. While its unique access to the story of Riccardo Schicchi's agency and its famous stars is lauded, the execution draws mixed opinions. Many appreciate its attempt to go beyond sensationalism to explore the complex lives and struggles of the women involved, often with a humorous and empathetic tone. However, concerns about the film's narrative coherence due to non-chronological jumps and occasional tonal inconsistencies are also present. The film seems to spark conversation, as intended by the director, about the past and present state of the porn industry.

Box Office

"Diva Futura" had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September 2024. Its theatrical release in Italy is scheduled for February 6, 2025. As of late May 2025, IMDb reports a modest worldwide gross of around $134,857. This is typical for an Italian arthouse drama with a festival-first release strategy.

Production

"Diva Futura" is an Italian drama running for 129 minutes (2 hours 9 minutes). It was directed and co-written by Giulia Louise Steigerwalt, with Debora Attanasio also credited as a writer (based on her memoir). The film was shot in Italian and Hungarian (reflecting Cicciolina's origins). Filming captured the aesthetic of 1980s-90s Italy.

Production Companies

• Groenlandia (Italy)

• PiperFilm (Italy)

• Rai Cinema (Italy)

Sales Companies

• PiperFilm (Italy) - Handles international sales.

Distribution Companies

• PiperFilm (Italy) - Handles Italian theatrical distribution.

Theatrical Release

• World Premiere: September 4, 2024, at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.

• Italy: February 6, 2025.

• The film has also screened at other international festivals, including the Zagreb Film Festival (Croatia, November 7, 2024), Cinema Italia Oggi (Poland, March 17, 2025), and Italian Cinema Week (Argentina, April 10, 2025).

Why to Recommend This Movie

• For Fans of Italian Cultural History: Offers a unique and often controversial look at a significant period in Italy's recent past.

• Biographical Drama with a Twist: Explores the lives of real figures (Riccardo Schicchi, Cicciolina, Moana Pozzi) from an insider's perspective.

• Female Gaze on a Male-Dominated Industry: Steigerwalt's direction aims to provide a more nuanced and empathetic portrayal of women in pornography.

• Thought-Provoking Themes: Prompts discussion on identity, exploitation, societal hypocrisy, and the commodification of the body.

• Blend of Humor and Drama: Manages to find moments of dark comedy amidst serious and sometimes tragic events.

Why to Watch Movie

• Learn About a Unique Phenomenon: Gain insight into the "Diva Futura" agency and its impact on Italian media and politics.

• Experience a Director's Fresh Perspective: See how Giulia Louise Steigerwalt tackles a sensitive subject with both humor and care.

• Engage with Controversial Topics: The film doesn't shy away from the complexities of the porn industry and its social implications.

• Appreciate Character-Driven Storytelling: Focuses on the human stories behind the public personas, offering depth and empathy.

• Support European Arthouse Cinema: Discover a film that pushes boundaries and offers a distinct cultural voice.

What Movie Trend Film is Following

The "Revisiting Controversial Historical Figures/Movements" Trend: "Diva Futura" aligns with films that re-examine past cultural phenomena or personalities, often shedding new light or offering a more nuanced perspective than previously available. This trend frequently delves into areas of social taboo or overlooked histories, aiming to contextualize them for a contemporary audience.

What Big Social Trend is Following

The "Re-evaluation of Sex Work and Women's Agency" Trend: The film directly engages with the ongoing social discourse around sex work, particularly in the context of women's agency and historical representation. It explores the complexities of working in the adult entertainment industry, challenging simplistic narratives of exploitation or empowerment. It contributes to a broader societal movement seeking to understand the lives of sex workers with more empathy and less judgment, prompting discussions about choice, stigma, and the changing landscape of sexual politics.

Final Verdict

"Diva Futura" is an ambitious and often engaging deep dive into a fascinating, and at times uncomfortable, chapter of Italian cultural history. Giulia Louise Steigerwalt bravely tackles the controversial subject of early Italian pornography, offering a surprisingly humanized and nuanced perspective through the eyes of an unexpected observer. While its narrative structure with time jumps can be challenging, the film's blend of dark humor, its commitment to a "female gaze," and its exploration of complex themes like fame, exploitation, and societal hypocrisy make it a compelling watch. It is a thought-provoking, if occasionally uneven, portrait of a unique "family" and the lasting impact of their "revolution."

Recommendations for Filmmakers

• Tackle Controversial Subjects with Nuance: Don't shy away from challenging topics, but commit to exploring them with complexity and empathy rather than sensationalism.

• Find Unique Perspectives: Telling a familiar story from an unexpected viewpoint (like a secretary in a porn agency) can unlock fresh insights and engage audiences differently.

• Balance Tone: Masterfully weaving humor into dramatic or tragic narratives can humanize characters and make difficult themes more accessible.

• Embrace Historical Context: Use period details and social changes to enrich the narrative and provide deeper meaning to character choices.

• Prioritize Character Over Plot: Even in historical or biographical films, deeply developing characters and their internal lives can be more impactful than strict chronological events.

Recommendations for Movie Industry

• Support Films with Brave Subject Matter: Encourage projects that are willing to delve into less-explored or controversial areas of history and culture.

• Champion Female Directors: Continue to provide platforms and funding for female filmmakers, especially those bringing new perspectives to diverse genres.

• Recognize the Power of Festival Exposure: Festival selections like Venice are crucial for arthouse films to gain traction, critical acclaim, and secure international distribution.

• Invest in Biographical Dramas: Stories based on real events and fascinating figures continue to captivate audiences, especially when told with a fresh voice.

• Foster International Collaborations: Co-productions can broaden the scope, reach, and artistic richness of independent films.