Alice Rohrwacher’s Next Chapter: From Silent Cinema to Calvino’s Fables
Alice Rohrwacher, the visionary Italian filmmaker behind the ethereal Happy as Lazzaro and the critically lauded La Chimera, is currently embarking on a prolific new phase of her career. Known for her ability to weave magical realism into the fabric of Italian rural life, Rohrwacher is now shifting her focus toward two ambitious projects that promise to expand her unique cinematic vocabulary.
Three Incestuous Sisters: A Silent Exploration of Isolation
Rohrwacher is currently in production on Three Incestuous Sisters, an adaptation of the illustrated book by Audrey Niffenegger, the author best known for The Time Traveller’s Wife. The project marks a distinct stylistic departure for the director, as reports indicate the film will be a silent—or nearly silent—feature, potentially shot in black-and-white to emphasize its atmospheric intensity.
The film boasts a powerhouse ensemble cast, featuring Dakota Johnson, Saoirse Ronan and recent Academy Award winner Jessie Buckley as the titular sisters. Josh O’Connor, a frequent collaborator of Rohrwacher, stars as the lighthouse keeper’s son whose arrival serves as the catalyst for the narrative’s tension. Adding to the film’s intrigue, music icon Mick Jagger is set to appear as the lighthouse keeper, with screen legend Isabella Rossellini rounding out the cast. Production has been spotted on the volcanic island of Stromboli, with the director’s longtime cinematographer, Hélène Louvart, behind the lens to capture the story’s haunting, isolated aesthetic.
Adapting the Fable of The Baron in the Trees
Beyond her current production, Rohrwacher has officially set her sights on a long-gestating literary adaptation: Italo Calvino’s 1957 classic, The Baron in the Trees (Il barone rampante). The novel is a cornerstone of Italian literature, telling the surreal coming-of-age story of Cosimo Piovasco di Rondò, a 12-year-old nobleman who, following a defiant argument with his father, climbs into the trees and vows never to descend for the remainder of his life.
Given Rohrwacher’s history of exploring themes of displacement, social structures, and the intersection of myth and reality, Calvino’s fable serves as an ideal vehicle for her sensibilities. While Three Incestuous Sisters currently occupies her production schedule, industry reports suggest that development on The Baron in the Trees is moving forward rapidly, with principal photography tentatively expected to commence in the latter half of 2027.
Key Takeaways
- A Silent Turn: Rohrwacher is embracing a minimalist approach for Three Incestuous Sisters, utilizing silent film techniques and high-contrast visuals to tell Niffenegger’s story.
- Star-Studded Cast: The project features an impressive lineup of talent, including Dakota Johnson, Saoirse Ronan, Jessie Buckley, and Josh O’Connor.
- Literary Ambition: With The Baron in the Trees, the director is tackling one of the most beloved works of 20th-century Italian literature, further cementing her status as a bridge between classic storytelling and contemporary art-house cinema.
Looking Ahead
As Alice Rohrwacher navigates these two distinct projects, her trajectory remains one of the most exciting narratives in European cinema. By alternating between the intimate, experimental nature of her current production and the expansive, fable-like scope of the Calvino adaptation, she continues to challenge traditional storytelling boundaries. Audiences can expect both films to carry the signature blend of grounded human emotion and dreamlike mystery that has made Rohrwacher a staple of the global festival circuit.