Overview

• The film premiered as the Venice Film Festival’s opening title in competition for the Golden Lion, drawing applause at both press and Sala Grande screenings.
• Toni Servillo plays a president nearing the end of his term who faces whether to sign a decree on euthanasia and whether to grant two pardons.
• Early reactions highlight a blend of intimacy and humor alongside Sorrentino’s stylized flourishes, without relying on overt political realism.
• Sorrentino said the story was prompted by news of a Mattarella-era pardon but emphasized that the character of Mariano De Santis is invented.
• Italy’s release is planned for January 2026 with an exclusive Netflix window afterward domestically, while MUBI holds international rights and will set territory-by-territory rollouts.