“Paternal Leave”, interview with the director Alissa Jung and the actor Luca Marinelli

February 23, 2025

Alissa Jung, director. Luca Marinelli, actor. " Paternal Leave". A daughter travles to Italy to meet the fsather she did not know she had. AS he did not know her as well...

"Paternal Leave", interview with the director Alissa Jung and the actor Luca Marinelli Angelo Acerbi

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“Paternal leave” is the first feature film of Alissa Jung , who after a seres of short films decides to jump into the world fo features with a story about the responsibilities of paternity and a man who tried to scape them. For this first film she decided to cast her own life partner, the actor Luca Marinelli, a daring and potential risky choice, that she is glad to have made, as she explains in the interview.

The film relies on the perfect connection between the two lead character, who speak two different languages

Alissa Jung had this aspect in the story to play with, while making “Paternal Leave“: the two protagonists, the German girl Leo and her Italian father Paolo, have a serious communication issue, as they have hard time in understanding each other. This was a tool Alissa used so well, rehearsing with the actors in their own language, so that they were forced to find different ways of communicating and understanding each other.

Plot

Fifteen-year-old Leo has grown up in Germany without a father. When she discovers his identity, she immediately sets out to track him down. She finds Paolo in a boarded-up beach bar on the wintry coast of northern Italy. The reunion leaves Paolo overwhelmed and conflicted. After Leo’s sudden appearance in his life, he struggles to balance his relationship between her and the family he has now. At first, Leo just wants answers. But soon, she starts to long for a place in Paolo’s life. With no money nor plans, she stays on in the small town. As they spend more time together, Leo and Paolo tentatively begin to bond and discover they have much in common. But reality inevitably catches up with them. When Paolo prioritises his younger daughter over Leo again, the latter is left hurt and angry. A confrontation lays bare their pain, apparently shattering their fragile connection. But, amid the turmoil, father and daughter begin to acknowledge their respective truths and take a small but meaningful step towards acceptance.

Written by: Angelo Acerbi

Luca Marinelli

Guest

Alissa Jung

Film

Paternal Leave

Festival

Berlinale

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Berlinale

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