The Kidnapping of Arabella

A charming, coolly comic Italian road movie about lost Holly, who takes off on an adventure with a younger version of herself, with the authorities in pursuit.

Carolina Cavalli follows up Amanda (GFF 2023) with a slightly absurdist gem of a film, reminiscent of Jarmusch's early films. For 28-year-old Holly, life hasn’t turned out the way she expected. But when she meets seven-year-old Arabella in a parking lot, she becomes convinced the child is her younger self. Arabella quickly decides to play along, and together they embark on a wobbly trip filled with magical moments, comic mishaps and eccentric characters. A story of young adult rootlessness told with humor, warmth, and pitch-perfect tone.

• Johan Blomqvist