3 min readPuneJan 13, 2026 09:40 PM IST
First published on: Jan 13, 2026 at 09:40 PM IST
In six months, as his daughter reminds him, Mariano De Santis will no longer be the head of state. He has been an admirable President of Italy and his tenure is ending. But, he still has an unfinished duty. The euthanasia bill.
De Santis’ dilemma is great– “If I don’t sign it, I will be seen as a torturer. If I sign it, I will be seen as a murderer.”
His daughter puts it succinctly, “Signing the bill requires courage that you do not have.”
The President’s decision will be revealed to Pune cinema lovers on January 15 as the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) opens with the film, La Grazia. The selection committee has created an impressive bouquet of foreign and Indian films for the festival, with La Grazia, by Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino, providing a layered curtain raiser. PIFF will be held between January 15 and 22.
“Anyone in the film circle, if asked about ‘who are the most important contemporary Italian directors today?’ will put Paolo Sorrentino at the top. He has been making films for quite a few years and won many awards at many festivals,” says Abhijeet Ranadive, creative Head of PIFF.
Ranadive adds that Sorrentino is known to make films which are meant to be enjoyed, in terms of the visual and audio qualities, while confronting complex issues. “His films look beautiful, apart from trying to say something important and substantial,” says Ranadive.
PIFF features films that have been shortlisted for the Oscars and won many awards in other important film festivals, among other honours. “It becomes very difficult to choose one film to be the opening film.
But when the selection committee saw La Grazia, they all veered towards it because of the universal subject. Although it is an Italian film and based on real characters and real incidents, it’s a topic that is very universal. It touches all of us,” says Ranadive.
In the film, the new euthanasia bill comes when the President is at the end of his tenure. At a time where he’s keenly aware of his own mortality.
“The doctor says that they will do what they can to keep you alive, but is it really a life worth living? It’s these kinds of almost existential questions that he starts thinking about,” says Ranadive.
The selection committee felt that La Grazia was one of the films that must be watched on the big screen. “Italy is a beautiful country and they have very old buildings. All the government buildings and the architecture are a few centuries old. The existential questions unfold in long corridors and big buildings with the director using some extremely powerful close ups,” says Ranadive.
As PIFF aims to interest a new generation of film buffs, La Grazia becomes a vehicle to reach Gen Z and others. “They will be made aware that a film can be made on tough subjects. It is a serious subject, but it’s a very enjoyable film because it’s a very beautifully made film. It’s a very handsome film,” compliments Ranadive.
PIFF features films that have been shortlisted for the Oscars and won many awards in other important film festivals, among other honours. (File Photo) 
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