Bread and Tulips

Opening the first Italian Film Festival in the year 2000 and now to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the festival, BREAD AND TULIPS returns to our cinema screens – still an audience favourite. Directed by Silvio Soldini, the story follows Rosalba, a housewife from a small town who feels neglected and unappreciated by her family. During a family vacation, she is accidentally left behind at a highway rest stop and decides to take a spontaneous trip to Venice. There, she begins a new life, working as a waitress and discovering a newfound sense of independence and self-worth. As she navigates this enchanting city, she encounters various colourful characters, including a charming flower seller and a mysterious private detective. Featuring commanding central performances from Licia Maglietta and Bruno Ganz, the film blends romance, comedy, and drama, celebrating themes of self-discovery and personal reinvention. Delivering a picturesque Venetian backdrop and a series of endearing characters the work offers a heartwarming and whimsical exploration of finding one’s place in the world.

Born in Milan in 1958, director Silvio Soldini moved to New York in 1979 to study filmmaking at NYU. Upon returning to Milan in 1982, with a group of film enthusiasts he made two low budget self-produced films and in 1989 he made his feature film debut with L'aria serena dell'Ovest. Bread and Tulips was his fourth feature film.