Italian sales company True Colours has taken world sales outside Italy on first-time director Anna Foglietta’s marriage drama “A Common Story” (“Una Storia”) starring Alba Rohrwacher, ahead of its bow in Venice and Toronto.
Foglietta is an actress-turned director best-known to international audiences for her role in Italy’s smash hit “Perfect Strangers” that earned her a David di Donatello nomination. She also served as the official emcee of the 77th Venice International Film Festival.
“Common Story” is the tale of Erika, played by Rohrwacher – whose credits include Pablo Larraín’s “Maria” and who served on the 2025 Cannes competition jury panel – and Mauro, played by Guido Caprino (“The Art of Joy”) whose simple life in the countryside is disrupted when their daughter Irene leaves to go to university abroad. Their house feels empty, and the balance on which this couple had based their lives seems to crumble. “This profound, intimate crisis will push them to really look at one another and understand if and how they can transform themselves and, consequently, their love,” says the synopsis.
“Common Story” will world premiere in September at Venice’s Horizons section, followed by a North-American launch in Toronto’s Discovery section.
Foglietta’s directorial debut is produced by Italy’s HT Film, Indigo Film, Tenderstories and Blu One Lab with support from RAI Cinema and HBO Max also on board. BIM Distribuzione will release the film in Italy.
“This marks the beginning of an international journey we’re proud to embark on with True Colours, which shares our faith in a film that, thanks to its author’s vision, manages to delve with extraordinary sensitivity into the depths of everyday life,” said HT Film’s Viola Prestieri.
Commented True Colours chief Elliot Gustin: “For the past 10 years, True Colours has consistently worked to discover and promote new Italian filmmakers. Anna is clearly one of the most talented voices of her generation and, with ‘A Common Story,’ she succeeds in portraying the crisis faced by a couple and a woman with great tenderness and sensitivity.”
“We are delighted to be supporting this unique new female voice around the world, starting with the Venice and Toronto film festivals,” he added.
Other titles on True Colours’ 2026 slate comprise Dario Albertini’s family drama “Armony,” starring Valerio Mastandrea and Asia Argento, that is launching from Locarno’s Piazza Grande; Susanna Nicchiarelli’s upcoming “Happy Days” with Riccardo Scamarcio (“Modì”) and Carlotta Gamba (“Portobello”); and Paolo Civati’s doc “Masters” which portrays nine prominent filmmakers including Jane Campion, Tim Burton, and Martin Scorsese.
