Paternal Leave

On a sunlit stretch of northern Italy, 15-year-old Leo heads to the coast to meet a father she barely knows. The moment they meet, it's all awkward distance and questions. The trip becomes a test of honesty as they try to sort out what drew them apart and what might still connect them. Across tense conversations and quiet moments by the sea, they push to uncover truths about lineage, belonging, and what it means to claim a presence in others' lives. The search forces both to look inward and choose how to move forward. Together they sift through memories that are not readily spoken, a stubborn mix of hurt and hope tucked behind guarded smiles. By the coast the air is thick with salt and questions, and the film lets the silence speak before honest talk arrives, keeping the pair off balance just enough to feel real.

Directed by Alissa Jung, Paternal Leave released in 2025. It follows Leo in a tense encounter with a father she barely knows, a journey captured through a restrained ensemble that includes Juli Grabenhenrich as Leo, Luca Marinelli, Arturo Gabbriellini, Joy Falletti Cardillo, and Gaia Rinaldi.

Box office data for Paternal Leave has not been publicly disclosed, and the film appears to be an intimate drama rather than a wide scale release. It seems aimed at festival circuits or selective theaters where intimate character studies can breathe.

As of now there are no publicly announced major nominations or wins for the film. The early buzz points to nuanced performances and careful direction that may attract attention later, especially from critics who favor European dramas centered on complex family ties.

Viewers and critics alike may notice the film's restrained pacing and its focus on how a single encounter can reframe a life. It asks where choice ends and fate begins, and how forgiveness or hurt can shape the way a person grows into adulthood.