La Ricerca in the world

La Ricerca has travelled through the world's leading international documentary film festivals, earning recognition from critics and juries across Europe, the Americas and beyond. In 2024, the film was released in Italian cinemas with a nationwide tour, distributed by Aplysia.

«A research endeavour, an artistic undertaking and even a form of time travel — this beautiful quest defies rigid categorisation.»
— The Guardian (UK)

«Simultaneously modest and surprisingly vast, this film unfolds from the portrait of a man with a singular passion. Gradually, the anecdotal narrative subtly gives way to a profound and unique perspective on the world, on the history of humanity and on the very notion of art.»
— Jury statement, Grand Prix — Le FIFA, Montréal (Canada)

«We want to award a film that transported, engaged and surprised us. We were moved by the protagonist's passion, which the director observed with skill and tenderness, encouraging us to educate our vision of the world. Things we thought simple became wondrous. It takes time to observe the world. A film that will stay with us and that we want to share with our generation.»
— Jury statement, Special Youth Jury Award — Visions du Réel, Nyon (Switzerland)

«Listening and imagination: these are the two precious qualities that Giuseppe Petruzzellis brings to the surface in his portrait of Luigi Lineri. Simplicity and wonder permeate the style of a film that knows how to pause, offering the viewer space for breath and meditation.»
— Giuseppe Di Salvatore — Filmexplorer (CH)

«Giuseppe Petruzzellis' film is a lunar film. A visionary journey in which the director brings inanimate objects to life through the voice of Luigi Lineri, who for sixty years has been pursuing a deeply personal quest. Framing, cinematography, music and editing are all wielded with mastery and talent by an author who has the courage to break often overused narrative patterns and to liberate a personal poetic vision of great visual and storytelling impact.»
— Jury statement, Andrea Pazienza Award — Premio Libero Bizzarri

«The story of an atypically poetic character leads us to an elevated and universal reflection on our past, present and future, through a refined cinematic language and a wisely creative use of archival footage.»
— Jury statement, Special Mention Hera "New Talents" — Biografilm Festival, Bologna (Italy)

What the critics say