Dalida – played with passion by Italian model-turned actress Sveva Alviti – was one of Europe’s most famous singers from the late 1950s to the 1980s and a legend in the disco boom.
A strong and independent performer, Dalida struggled in her love life. Her truest love was for her first husband, Lucien Morisse (Jean-Paul Rouve), who discovered and nurtured her. However, he was but the first of several lovers, including the young Italian singer, Luigi Tenco (Alessandro Borghi, Fortunata LIFF17), an Italian student and a French high society member. The only man in her life who was almost constantly present was her brother, Orlando (Riccardo Scamarcio, Master of None), who cared for her and became her producer.
This lavish French/Italian coproduction follows Dalida’s tragic life as well as her singing career that saw her sell 170 million records worldwide. Magnificently melodramatic and brimming with stunning musical moments, the film is driven by Alviti’s mesmeric performance – not only a dead ringer for Dalida but also, just like the title character, a charismatic force of nature that’s impossible to ignore.
