In July 2001, during the G8 summit in Genoa, Italy, widespread violence and serious human rights abuses took place, described by Amnesty International as "an unprecedented violation of human rights in recent European history." Hundreds of thousands of people from anti-globalization groups and peace organizations gathered for demonstrations, which quickly turned chaotic due to tactics used by groups known as black bloc. The violence reached a peak on July 20 with the death of 23-year-old Carlo Giuliani. The following day, police attacked the Genoa Social Forum’s coordination center, using batons and other forms of abuse. This led to the conviction of 25 officers for their roles in the events. Two powerful films have since addressed these events: Diaz - Don't Clean Up This Blood by Daniele Vicari and the documentary Carlo Giuliani, Boy by Francesca Comencini. Föa - Once Upon A Future, the debut feature film by 29-year-old Genoese director Margherita Ferrari, weaves a personal story with the broader historical events of that summer. Based on one of her earlier short films, Ferrari revisited the time she was four years old to develop the film. The story follows Nicole (Gaia Ravina), an 18-year-old woman from Genoa who is eight months pregnant. The film opens with Nicole’s final exam, during which she faints. Her home life is strained, and her parents are clearly unhappy about her decision to keep the child. As her family prepares for a vacation, Nicole announces she wants to stay home. Later, she meets her boyfriend, Marco (Pietro Giannini), who tells her he needs to "deactivate," signaling the end of their relationship. Returning home, Nicole lets go, dancing to the song "Crying at the Discoteque" as tear gas begins to be deployed outside. When someone rings the doorbell, three young protesters, visibly injured from baton strikes, run in and hide from the police. Initially hostile, the group quickly forms a cautious bond. Irene (Clara Tramontano), a traditional activist from a community center, shares how she met Julian (Gabriele Falsetta) at summer camps organized by European collectives. Julian, a doctor, expresses disappointment that the demonstrations have turned into "a war we are losing." Also present is Elixi (Iker Urgoiti), a young Basque man whose brother is in prison for terrorism. During their brief time together, the four share fears—both immediate concerns about the violence outside and deeper anxieties about their uncertain future. Ferrari’s direction, supported by the cinematography of Filippo Mariano, is technically strong and shows a promising sensitivity in portraying her characters. The film takes place against the backdrop of a dramatic historical event, which Ferrari presents in a somewhat blurred manner, as the title Föa suggests ("fairy tale" in Italian). While the interactions between the young women and men, who have made different life choices, do not lead to a clear change in their worldviews, a shared realization emerges: the erosion of their certainty about the future. However, the film faces a significant challenge in its narrative structure. The contrast between a young man killed during a protest for the belief that "another world is possible" and the distress of a newborn suggests a moral dilemma. It raises the question of whether the more appropriate choice is to place hope for a non-oppressive future in the act of becoming a mother, rather than in the struggle itself. Föa - Once Upon A Future was produced by Numero 10 and The Apartment (a Fremantle company), in association with PiperFilm and in collaboration with Netflix. International sales are managed by PiperPlay.