Il dolore che non si vede: il racconto del manicomio nell’ultimo film di Alessandro Bencivenga
Director Alessandro Bencivenga’s new film, L’invisibile filo rosso, debuted out of competition at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, offering a poignant look at the Pergine Valsugana psychiatric hospital in the 1950s. Based on extensive archival research, the narrative follows a young nurse from Ischia who witnesses the hidden horrors and human dignity within the asylum. The film features a notable cast including Massimo Bonetti, who portrays the real-life figure Giovanni Giulio Anesini, and Ornella Muti as Ida Dalser, the persecuted first wife of Benito Mussolini.
This work serves as a significant act of civil commitment, shedding light on the dark history of Italy’s mental health institutions and the political weaponization of psychiatry. By blending historical documentation with cinematic storytelling, Bencivenga restores identity to victims like Dalser and Anesini who were erased from official records. The project underscores the intersection of cinema and historical memory, highlighting how art can act as a posthumous vessel for justice and social reflection.