IT
Can love endure illness, absence, and the wounds of the past? This is one of the central questions explored in King of the Wanderers, the latest film by director Janne Schmidt, presented in competition in the Elements +10 section at Sala Sordi. Delicate yet deeply moving, the film follows the perspective of young Meissy and invites audiences to reflect on one of life’s greatest “impossibilities”: accepting the people we love even when reality turns out to be very different from what we had imagined.
Eleven-year-old Meissy dreams of finally getting to know her father, who has suddenly reappeared after years of absence. Despite her mother Lucy’s objections, she secretly decides to meet him and is soon captivated by his imaginative world of origami, unexpected encounters, and a life lived on society’s margins. But what begins as a magical journey gradually becomes the discovery of a painful truth: her father is living with schizophrenia, a condition that profoundly affects his relationship with reality and one her mother had tried to shield her from in an effort to protect her.
Following the screening, director Janne Schmidt shared the origins of the project, which grew out of her experience as a journalist. “I spent many years writing about homelessness and came to realize that anyone can suddenly find themselves in a vulnerable situation,” she explained. “At the same time, I became increasingly interested in mental health : a subject that concerns all of us and one we need to discuss without stigma.”
Her message resonated strongly with the young #jurors, who praised the film’s courage in tackling an issue that is still too often surrounded by prejudice. Screenwriter Eveline Hagenbeek also spoke about the emotional significance of the occasion, recalling the film’s long creative journey. “It took us five years to make this film, and today, here at Giffoni, it is having its Italian premiere,” she said.
The milestone was celebrated alongside the young audience with warm applause and thoughtful reflections. “Beyond every illness or hardship, there will always be love between parents and children, and nothing can truly separate them,” observed Giorgio, capturing the emotional core of the story. Federico, meanwhile, connected the film to the festival’s theme: “The impossible thing in this film is the reunion between father and daughter. Sometimes change creates distance, especially when we cannot accept what frightens us.”
Ultimately, King of the Wanderers leaves audiences with a profoundly humane message: some impossible things cannot be changed but they can be understood.