In 1944, in the mountainous village of Vermiglio in northern Italy, lives the only teacher in the village and his big family. Their quiet life is disrupted by Pietro, a reserved soldier who arrives in the village to escape the war. Lucia, the eldest daughter, falls in love with Pietro, while her sensitive younger sister observes and grapples with growing pains. The son, eager for his father’s approval, becomes restless, and the still innocent younger children view the secret-filled world of adults with curious eyes. The love that blossoms between Lucia and Pietro almost feels like a MacGuffin, as the film’s unwavering focus is on life itself—fleeting, painful, and yet full of gratitude—with a reminder that life always accompanies death. The film’s stunning cinematography, capturing the majestic landscapes of northern Italy, is by Mikhail Krichman, known for his work on Leviathan (2014) and Loveless (2017). (LEE Juhyun)