THE STORY – When two childhood friends meet after years to fulfill the broken promise of climbing Mount Etna, Adele and Sofia realize that like the mountain, old wounds loom over everything.
THE CAST – Tecla Insolia, Romana Maggiora Vergano, & Giuseppe De Domenico
THE TEAM – Irene Dionisio (Director/Writer) & Marco Borromei (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 93 Minutes
In Irene Dionisio’s gorgeously shot “Idda,” Mount Etna’s ecosystem tells a story of smoldering tension between childhood friends. Adele and Sofia, now in their thirties, reunite to fulfill a shared dream of climbing Etna. As they embark on this unpredictable journey together, foggy memories of long-buried wounds drift across Sicily’s eastern coast like puffs of ash. The mountainous imagery underlines a relationship on the brink of eruption, and a scary turning point with no way back. While the story feels unfinished and muddled, Dionisio shows impressive control in the quiet buildup of intensity.
Adele and Sofia rekindle their friendship in Catania, shaped by a feminine force of nature. Locals refer to Mount Etna as “Idda,” which translates to “She” in Sicilian dialect, casting the active volcano as a living, breathing female presence. The film’s setting has a spirited energy, with its energetic squares and lava-stone architecture. The story also centers on the spiritual Festival of Saint Agatha, adding a throughline of Italian folklore to the backdrop. Location plays an integral role in shaping the characters’ journey, as the two friends parallel Etna’s calm and volatile energy. Adele (Tecla Insolia) is a reserved photographer who stayed in Catania and is now on assignment to cover the Saint Agatha festival procession. Sofia (Romana Maggiora Vergano), carefree and impulsive, left home to study abroad and became a dance teacher. When the two reconnect, meeting festival documentarian Florian (Mati Galey) along the way, Adele pauses her itinerary and becomes drawn to Sofia’s spontaneous direction. Their plans for Etna start to crumble as roadblocks pop up in the form of quiet resentment.
Dionisio’s direction shapes her characters’ emotions with alluring mystery. Interpreting dramatic tension through setting, she uses the volcano to mirror the internal lengths Adele and Sofia must climb to work through a fractured relationship. The film takes a little while to reach its narrative heights and click into place. The central conflict between these two characters is stretched thin, causing lulls in momentum, especially during the film’s first half. Overlapping timelines also make for a somewhat confounding watch, and the story can feel a little too ambiguous. Dionisio’s enigmatic storytelling excels at crafting an impactful atmosphere. She leans into the artistic freedom that memories provide; images are hazy and unreliable. Gentle editing, along with archival footage of volcanic eruptions, mirrors the feeling of being misplaced in time. This quality extends to the depiction of Sofia, who carries an almost otherworldly energy that ultimately mirrors the personal history Dionisio incorporates into the narrative. Co-written with Marco Borromei, “Idda” echoes the passing of Dionisio’s best friend. The film excels at exploring the fragmented memories tied to grief, and how figures from the past suddenly drift through our consciousness.
The story of “Idda” picks up significantly in the second half, which finds Adele and Sofia spending the night in a cabin belonging to Adele’s hiking friend, Salvatore (Giuseppe De Domenico). The mountainous slopes give way to higher stakes and more vulnerable territory, as the characters’ internal conflicts bubble to the surface. From there, a visceral, intense confrontation between Adele and Sofia disrupts the Mount Etna dream, leaving Adele haunted by the path she chooses next. While the character development feels unfinished, the introspective performances fill in the gaps. Tecla Insolia and Romana Maggiora Vergano share excellent chemistry, and their portrayals have a compelling rawness. Their encounters also feel freeing and spontaneous, adding enticing mystery to where the story might go. Insolia and Maggiora slip perfectly into the obscure tone with understated, impactful work.
Sifting through old photos of family and friends confronts you with a quiet, familiar yearning. You trace the memories of loved ones no longer present as they once were, but their essence feels vivid enough that you could step back into the frame. Irene Dionisio captures that feeling beautifully. With strong cinematography and evocative sound, she transports you into a story drawn from the power of memory. All it takes is one sit-down with a box of photographs to evoke years of experience. Less is more in “Idda,” a gorgeously shot story with simmering tension. As Etna looms in the background, delicate writing carves out an intimate character drama where the emotional power sneaks up on you.
