TIFF 2024: Wishing on a Star (Movie Trailer in Italian With English Subtitles)
TIFF 2024: Wishing on a Star – A Cosmic Journey into Life, Love, and Astrology
Get ready to dive into the stars with Wishing on a Star, the latest documentary from veteran filmmaker Peter Kerekes. Premiering at TIFF 2024, this charming and quirky film blends the magic of astrology with real-life emotions, offering a unique, heartwarming look at human desires and dreams. Whether you’re a horoscope believer or a skeptic, this film is bound to captivate you with its cosmic charm and fascinating storytelling.
The Story: Wishes, Astrology, and New Beginnings
At the heart of Wishing on a Star is Luciana de Leoni d’Asparedo, a 63-year-old Neapolitan astrologer living in a crumbling castle in Aiello del Friuli, a small town near the Venetian Lagoon. Luciana isn’t just any astrologer—she has a special technique that she swears by: for her clients’ wishes to come true, they need to take a trip on their birthday to be “reborn under a new sky.”
From businesspeople on the brink of burnout to women searching for love, Luciana’s clients come from all walks of life. Her job? To help them find the perfect destination—whether it’s Beirut, Cres, or Taipei—by triangulating the stars and planets to create the ideal rebirth moment. Luciana is part astrologer, part travel agent, blending cosmic wisdom with practical solutions.
But behind her confident façade, Luciana is grappling with her own struggles, doubts, and longings. As she helps others chase their dreams, she’s also on a journey to fulfill her own wishes—proving that even the most skilled astrologers have unanswered questions about life.
A Hybrid of Documentary and Fiction
Kerekes is known for his ability to blur the line between fiction and documentary, and Wishing on a Star is no exception. The film feels like a cinematic narrative, but at its core, it captures real people with real emotions. Kerekes brilliantly brings together humor, drama, and the unexpected twists that life often throws our way—just like in the stars.
Through Luciana’s adventures with her clients, we get to experience a world full of serendipity, coincidence, and the magic of timing. Whether you believe in astrology or not, the film taps into something universal: the human desire to feel like we’re in control of our destiny, even if it’s just for a moment.
Why You Should Watch It
Wishing on a Star is a feel-good film that’s both whimsical and deeply human. It explores the complexity of our desires, the search for meaning, and the strange ways we try to connect with the universe. With Luciana as our guide, the film takes us on a delightful journey across the globe, showing us that sometimes, all we need is a change of perspective—or a different sky—to feel renewed.
Kerekes’ direction brings out the charm in everyday moments, blending the cosmic with the down-to-earth in a way that feels both touching and humorous. It’s a film that will leave you thinking about your own life, your wishes, and whether there’s something out there in the stars guiding us along the way.
Showtimes at TIFF 2024
Don’t miss Wishing on a Star at these TIFF 2024 screenings:
- Sunday, September 8 – 12:45 pm (Scotiabank Theatre)
- Monday, September 9 – 9:15 am (Scotiabank Theatre, Press & Industry)
- Tuesday, September 10 – 10:00 pm (TIFF Lightbox)
- Sunday, September 15 – 3:00 pm (Scotiabank Theatre)
Whether you’re a believer in astrology or just curious about the power of coincidence, Wishing on a Star is an enchanting and thought-provoking film that will have you looking up at the sky with new eyes. Be sure to catch it at TIFF 2024 and experience a little cosmic magic for yourself!
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