AFFFF25: The Kingdom

Australian Premiere

Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, The Kingdom is a powerful debut film that is a rich and sensory experience – a must-see drama embodied by fierce, tender love.

Corsica, 1995. Lesia (Ghjuvanna Benedetti) is desperate for a normal teenage life. However, amidst the island's gang politics, she’s not just the daughter of notorious mafioso – she’s a potential target. Taken from the beachside to an unknown villa, she is reunited with her father, Pierre-Paul (Saveriu Santucci), who is hiding from the police. As her summer holidays melt away, she is drawn deeper into his world of blood feuds and violent retribution. When all-out war erupts, Pierre-Paul and Lesia must go to ground, where they will face each other and themselves. 

With unflinching realism, The Kingdom is a powerful account of family bonds and gang violence, told by Corsican first-time director Julien Colonna and a non-professional cast. A peek into a turbulent world as seen through the eyes of a child, Colonna’s film never falls into caricature. Rather, it serves as a testament to the humanity found beneath the surface and the roles we are forced to play to survive.