– Produced by Fandango and Eolo Film, Pier Lorenzo Pisano’s debut film follows a 16-year-old girl, played by Gala Martinucci, who’s dealing with the loss of her father
Actress Gala Martinucci on the set of Urania (© Jarno Iotti)
Filming has wrapped in Rome on Pier Lorenzo Pisano’s feature debut, Urania. The movie is being produced by Domenico Procacci on behalf of Fandango and by Daniele Occhipinti for Eolo Film Productions.
Born in Naples 35 years ago, Pisano has directed multiple award-winning short films, including Così in terra – presented in Cannes’ Cinéfondation line-up in 2018, and in another fifty-plus international festivals – and L’oro di famiglia, which was nominated at the David di Donatello Awards in 2021. He’s one of the authors behind Under the God – a collective film made under the supervision of Béla Tarr which screened out of competition in Locarno 2019 – and the joint winner of the 2018 Solinas Prize for Best Subject thanks to Ma’. A writer now on his fifth book (his latest novel, La somma delle cose, is due to be published by Einaudi), the junior artistic director at the Teatro di Napoli since November of last year and a confirmed playwright whose texts have been translated into fifteen languages, Pisano is the most decorated dramaturgist in terms of Italian prizes, which include the Riccione and Hystrio awards.
Urania – according to the production notes – tells the story of an extraordinary encounter and an unspeakable loss. Bianca is a sixteen-year-old girl who’s dealing with her father’s death. She finds herself in possession of a handful of books from his “Urania” sci-fi collection, and a special power: namely the ability to change history and choose alternative realities. Urania is a film about how to survive pain and the choices that we make.
The young protagonist’s mother is played by Barbora Bobulova, who’s worked with Marco Bellocchio and Nanni Moretti, among other names, and who scooped a David di Donatello, a European Nastro d’Argento and an Italian Golden Globe for Best Actress thanks to Sacred Heart in 2005. She also won a Nastro d’Argento for Best Supporting Actress via A Brighter Tomorrow in 2023, and 4 nominations each at the David di Donatello and Nastri awards. Bianca is played by daughter of art, Gala Martinucci (her father is director of photography Luigi Martinucci and her grandma the legendary costume designer and producer Beatrice Bulgari), who made her film debut in 2025 with Arsa by the Masbedo duo, and who also starred in Peter Marcias’ Quasi grazia, which was presented in the Torino Film Festival in 2025. The protagonist’s sister, Sara, is played by Valentina Romani (A Brighter Tomorrow) and her father by Adriano Giannini (David-nominated for Adagio in 2024). The cast is rounded off by Ksenia Borzak, Damiano Pacchiani, Giovanni De Maria, Daniele Russo, Anna Redi and Daniele Natali.
Original music for Urania comes courtesy of Francesco Bianconi, who’s the frontman of rock band Baustelle, while cinematography is by Francesco di Giacomo, editing will fall to Christian Marsiglia, set design is in the hands of Roberto De Angelis and costumes are the work of Andrea Cavalletto.
(Translated from Italian)
