Directed by Emanuela Rossi
Written by Emanuela Rossi and Claudio Corbucci
Starring Denise Tantucci, Valerio Binasco
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
Appeared at Final Girls Berlin Film Festival

by Victoria Potenza, Staff Writer

One of the stand-out features of this year’s Final Girls Berlin Film Fest is the Italian film Darkness–or in its native language Buio–from director Emanuela Rossi who co-wrote the film with Claudio Corbucci. As far as atmospheric feminist tales go, this is one of the best coming out right now. A tale of young girls who were either forced to grow up too soon or are currently blossoming into adulthood, and learn the hardships that can entail. 

The story is about Stella (Denise Tantucci) and her two young sisters who are not allowed to leave the house. They live in a world where the sun has become too hot and only men are strong enough to leave and scavage for food. So their father (Valerio Binasco) takes on the task of providing for the family while Stella takes care of the other girls. They spend their days playing, exercising, and pretending they are out in the open air. Stresses begin to mount as their father restricts more and more of their access to light and fresh air. When their father disappears, leaving the girls to fend for themselves, they must decide if they can brave the outdoors and risk being killed as their mother had. 

While this story does not seem like the most unique on its surface, Emanuela Rossi created a thrilling and anxiety-inducing tale that gets are the heart of many issues around gender and control. So much of the film involves emotional abuse and gaslighting by the father and even at times amongst the sisters themselves. While it is evident that Stella is trying to act in the best interest of her sisters she still makes decisions in regards to how truthful she is with them. Clearly, the father has the most control, and almost anytime he is present on the screen you cringe at what he might do next. As more of the story unfolds, and the audiences see glimpses of the family’s past, it becomes clear that the stories they tell themselves, and each other might not be true.

Denise Tantucci gives a heartfelt performance as Stella who is clearly trying to act in the best interest of her sisters. At the same time, she is growing into womanhood and it is obvious that the house and the present danger outside are not enough to keep her inside forever. At times she feels both incredibly adult and like a newborn baby seeing the world for the first time. While there are times her actions look to be ones of a mad and jealous woman, there seem to always be some reasonable thought process behind them. 

The Father is also an interesting archetype that seems to represent the whole patriarchal system that uses whatever tactics possible to keep women down and make them obedient and subservient to men. His religion is clearly something he hides behind to excuse his behavior and to demonize the behavior of the girls. He insinuates that “the devil tempts them” or that they are becoming “witches” when they inquire about the boundaries he sets or his disapproval of their actions. Their house is the perfect microcosm of the history of man’s attempt to dominate the female body and mind. 

This film was entrancing. So much of the film is dedicated to the girls dressing up and dancing or working out to old 80s exercise tapes. Sometimes they bask in the UV lights to pretend they are feeling the real sun on their face. Their rituals and habits are all so innocent and tender even with the ever-growing darkness that surrounds them. There is so much neon in their costumes and lighting throughout the house that, against the darkness of the house, is gorgeous to look at. It is a gorgeous-looking movie and well crafted on top of having so many interesting thematic pieces to latch onto. 

Darkness made me nostalgic for the silly games my sisters and I used to play and also seized me with absolute terror in the moments they are confronted with the dangers of their volatile father. It is a wonderful mood piece and has so many interesting elements to discuss. While its twists and turns might feel predictable or cliched to some, the story has enough unique nuances that it is well worth your time to check it out.