What separates the successful and the failures in life? Is it a question of hard work, talent, or just plain luck? Jasmine Trinca (Wondrous Boccaccio LIFF15) gives a mesmerising, tour-de-force performance (winner of Best Actress, Un Certain Regard at Cannes Film Festival 2017) in Sergio Castellitto’s emotionally charged tale of a single mother fighting for her independence.
Fortunata ("Lucky") has had a difficult life, a daughter of eight and a failed marriage behind her. Travelling daily from her working class suburb to attend the homes of rich women, where she works as a hairdresser, her dream is to get lucky by winning the lottery and open her own salon. She has best friend Chicano (Alessandro Borghi, I Was a Dreamer LIFF17) and her daughter at her side, and the gumption to make it stick; what’s still standing in her way is her security guard ex-husband Franco (Edoardo Pesce God Willing LIFF15), who’s contesting for custody of their child.
When a court order places her child in therapy, which is the last thing Fortunata needs, fate intervenes when she encounters the deeply compassionate Dr. Patrizio (Stefano Accorsi Italian Race LIFF16).
