“A bittersweet yet often joyful paean to the pleasures and perils of family life.” - Eye Weekly

Even when you're part of a circus troupe, there's not a lot to do in the midst of a dreary Roman winter. Days and nights are filled by perfecting performances and waiting for warmer weather to roll around.

But when flame-haired Patty and her knife-throwing husband Walter find an abandoned toddler, their lives have to change to make room for a new addition.

Shot in handheld, neo-realist style, La Pivellina is a rare glimpse into a grittier side of Italy. From award-winning filmmaker couple Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel (Babooska) comes a humorous and very human meander through the everyday - with a group of people who are anything but.

Winner of the Label Europa Cinema Award at the 2009 Cannes Directors' Fortnight.

MIFF Recommends: Age 14+
Some adult themes and mild coarse language