In an exclusive screening for the Italian Cultural Institute and in its absolute premiere in the UAE — not yet released in Italian cinemas — “Un Natale in Casa Croce” (“A Christmas at Casa Croce”), the latest work by the great Italian director Pupi Avati, arrives in Abu Dhabi.
Date:16 December 2025, at 7:00 PM
Venue: Italian Cultural Institute in Abu Dhabi
RSVP: https://unnataleacasacroce.splashthat.com
The documentary film, directed by the Italian master of the seventh art, follows the life of the great philosopher Benedetto Croce, beginning with the tragic 1883 earthquake in Ischia, an event that deeply marked his youth.
Croce, a central figure in Italian culture, is portrayed through the decisive moments of his life, particularly his profound and complex friendship with fellow philosopher Giovanni Gentile. This bond, which lasted until the 1920s, became strained with the rise of Fascism, when Croce emerged as one of the regime’s most prominent opponents.
His life is characterized by a constant tension between his philosophical vocation and political engagement, until, after Gentile’s death, he joined the Government of National Unity, continuing to embody the ideological contradictions of his era.
The film was screened out of competition at the Torino Film Festival 2024.
Director: Pupi Avati; Screenplay: Pupi Avati, Luigi Boneschi; Cinematography: Cesare Bastelli; Editing: Ivan Zuccon; Production Design: Alessandro Marangolo; Costume Design: Angela Capuano; Music: Rocco De Rosa; Cast: Paolo Spezzaferri, Teresa Cerciello, Chiara Barassi, Roberta Geramicca, Fenicia Rocco, Sabrina Bevilacqua, with the participation of Benedetta Craveri; Produced by Minerva Pictures in collaboration with Cinecittà Luce and Rai Documentari; Country: Italy, 2024; Duration: 74 minutes.
In collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.