Penelope Cruz stars in this gorgeous, involving melodrama which makes imaginative use of director Emanuele Crialese's own biography. Set in 1970s Rome, a young teenager is beginning to question her identity, preferring to go by the male name Andrea, and harbouring a suspicion that she hails from another galaxy. Her mother Clara is a vivacious presence but begins to crumble under the strain of protecting her children from their abusive father. Making use of luminous fantasy sequences, Crialese tells a story of childhood trauma and shifting identity with nuance and psychological honesty.
