Gioia is a high school teacher who has never known any other love than the oppressive bond with her own parents, with whom she still lives. One of the students at her school, Alessio, is cashing in on his own body to make a couple of hundred euros to help his mother, a cashier in a supermarket. The relationship that dawns between Gioia and Alessio is forbidden fruit, fragile yet, inexplicably, one they can’t do without. Still, Alessio’s desire to improve his social standing is a silent killer that prevents him from ultimately accepting Gioia’s surprising affection for him. He goes and destroys it all, cancelling the only person who has ever loved him.
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Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
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Cast
10 people
Valeria Golino
Gioia
Known for
Rain Man
Hot Shots!
Saul Nanni
Alessio
Known for
Under the Riccione Sun
The Leopard
Jasmine Trinca
Carla
Known for
On My Skin
The Gunman
Francesco Colella
Cosimo
Known for
Trust
The Leopard
Betti Pedrazzi
Gisella
Known for
The Hand of God
Immaculate
Gianni Bissacca
Professore di Filosofia
Known for
Out of My League
Just a Father
Laura Mazzi
Paola
Known for
Italian Race
One Kiss
Anita Fiorello
Also in
L'Isola della Cura
Gilda Postiglione Turco
Known for
The Double Hour
Andrea Vasone
Nicolangelo Gelormini Director · Giuliano Scarpinato Screenplay Benedetta Mori Screenplay
First release August 27, 2025 · Produced in Italy · Production Vision Distribution, Film Commission Torino Piemonte
Production
HT Film
Production
Vision Distribution
Production
Film Commission Torino Piemonte
Production
Indigo Film
Production
MiC
Production
Sky
Production
Italy
Produced in
Languages
Original title
La gioia
Original language
Italian
Spoken on screen
Italian
Release dates
Italy · August 27, 2025
Premiere · Giornate degli Autori
Italy · February 12, 2026
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
France
October 28, 2026 · Theatrical
Germany
August 6, 2026 · Theatrical
September 3, 2026 · Physical
Romania
July 11, 2026 · Digital · HBO Max
July 11, 2026 · TV · Cinemax 2
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Some details come from TheTVDB.