★★★★★
All too often, the rush of life and the obligations of society demand our constant attention. Margherita Spampinato’s exquisitely rendered debut film, Sweetheart (Gioia Mia), asks us to stop and hold the moments in between, however fleeting.
Inspired by Spampinato’s own childhood, the film follows Nico (Marco Fiore), a hyper-connected eleven-year-old shipped off to Sicily for the summer to stay with his great aunt Gela (Aurora Quattrocchi) – a devoutly religious old woman living alone in an ancient home frozen in time. There is no Wi-Fi and no screens; just secrets, superstition, and ancient spirits.
The film opens with Nico’s babysitter, Violetta, telling him a story about a shell on a beach and the sound of the wind to help him fall asleep before she departs to get married. It is a simple, sweet moment that sets up a profound sense of longing that permeates the narrative.
In its texture, the film takes on a similar tone to the likes of Lost in Translation mixed with Cinema Paradiso. It captures that aching sense of yearning through quiet, intimate moments. Ultimately, however, Sweetheart earns its own rightful place in the realm of classics.
One could view the film as a coming-of-age story, and for Nico, it is; but to me, it is far more a circle-of-life story. It brings together two individuals at highly vulnerable thresholds, creating a gentle refuge where time slows down and the delicate thresholds of childhood and old age come into focus.
What’s unique is that the film focuses completely on childhood and the ageing. There is a feisty group of local kids that Nico is encouraged to play with, and Gela’s elderly neighbours, a group of women who gather like local seers to play cards, but we never see the middle generation represented.
Kept at a distance through phone calls from Nico’s mother and father, this choice serves to take us out of the rush and responsibility of daily adult life, allowing us to linger in the fragile, unhurried bookends of human existence.
Spampinato has directed this exquisite film with a delicate, observant hand. She holds the story and characters so carefully, it all feels as precious as Gela’s grandmother’s vase that, as she says, “lasted two wars and the Messina earthquake.”
Directing children is never an easy task, but Spampinato excels at this by directing the actors with generous patience, giving them space to feel free. The camera lingers on quiet moments, allowing the performances to shine in the most organic way.
Legendary Sicilian actress Aurora Quattrocchi (what a name!) is effortlessly lived-in as Gela. She is masterfully restrained and complex at the same time, her quiet presence blending seamlessly into the space and narrative, while her vulnerability tugs at the surface.
Young Marco Fiore’s intelligent performance is a true standout. He displays a natural on-screen chemistry with expressive eyes that take us into his world as he discovers and responds to this ancient home in Sicily.
The film beautifully weaves these two perspectives in and out of each other, blurring the lines. There are moments when Gela reveals a sweet, childlike vulnerability, while Nico takes on the weathered wisdom of years.
Cinematographer Claudio Cofrancesco captures the film with still, long often hand-held shots. Often working with natural light, his shots of light falling gently across the actors and the dining table create a sense of beautiful fragility, like holding an heirloom passed down through generations.
Composer Alice Zecchinelli’s score is aptly delicate and unobtrusive. The piano and gentle strings create atmosphere that just edges around the secrets and emotions lingering under the surface.
Spampinato lets the sounds of the space – the dog puffing, the birds chirping, the scraping of a chair, bring us back into the simplicity of the moment.
In a world that wants us to rush past it all, this film reminds us that life is precious in the most refined, observant, beautiful way. It captures the fleetingness of childhood, how quickly youth slips away, and how those in later years ache for past connections.
Margherita Spampinato’s Sweetheart is an exquisite treasure, a delicate piece of filmmaking that gently beckons us back to what it’s all about: our humanity.
Sweetheart (Gioia Mia) screens at the 2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival, presented by Palace. In cinemas from 16 September in the locations below.
Tickets: https://italianfilmfestival.com.au/films/iff26-sweetheart
Website: https://italianfilmfestival.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/italianfilmfest/
Watch the trailer here:
Film details:
Title: Sweetheart (Gioia Mia)
Director: Margherita Spampinato
Cast: Aurora Quattrocchi, Marco Fiore, Martina Ziami, Camille Dugay
Country of Origin: Italy
Duration: 92 mins
Rating: PG
2026 Festival Dates and Venues by City:
Canberra 16 September – 14 October, Palace Electric Cinema
Adelaide 16 September – 13 October, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Sydney 17 September – 14 October, Palace Moore Park, Palace Norton St, Palace Central
Byron Bay and Ballina 17 September – 14 October, Palace Byron Bay, Ballina Fair Cinemas
Melbourne 18 September – 15 October, The Astor Theatre, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, Cinema Nova
Ballarat 18 September – 15 October, Palace Regent Cinemas
Brisbane 24 September – 18 October, Palace Barracks, Palace James Street
Perth 24 September – 18 October, Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema
