Venice Review: 'The Spiral' Showcases Valeria Bruni Tedeschi in Satirical Faustian Tale

A new Italian film screening at the Venice Film Festival, "The Spiral," directed by Paolo Strippoli, has drawn praise from critic Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian, who described it as "an uproarious edge-of-the-seat gripper" featuring what he called the best performance of actor Valeria Bruni Tedeschi's career.

According to the review, the film centers on Anna, played by Jasmine Trinca, a woman complacently married to wealthy Bari businessman Walter, portrayed by Adriano Giannini. The couple have two children, Alice and Tobia, played by Romana Maggiora Vergone and Andrea Genovese respectively.

The review states that the narrative unfolds across chapters devoted to each family member. During a lavish party intended to impress friends and neighbors, the review says, a serious accident occurs shortly after the children discover an unsettling spiral of ants in the grass.

While praying for a resolution, Anna is visited by a mysterious stranger referred to in the film's Italian title as "L'estranea," played by Tedeschi. According to the review, the character appears to know intimate details about the family and offers to solve their problems in exchange for a bargain described as "sadistic" and centered on the parents' selfishness.

Bradshaw's review characterizes the film as "a satirical nightmare about a wealthy woman's Faustian bargain," comparing its tone to Roald Dahl's "Tales of the Unexpected." The review also praises the film's visual style, likening its cinematography and design to the work of director Paolo Sorrentino, and notes that it offers commentary on body image, what the reviewer terms "body fascism," and the self-image of a wealthy Italian matriarch who repeatedly frames her actions as sacrifices for her children.