Based on the remarkable real-life story of Lea Garofalo, the latest film from Marco Tullio Giordana received a 5-minute standing ovation at Rome’s Fiction Fest, where it was the Opening Night Film. Lea is a young woman who has grown up around the ‘Ndràngheta (Calabrian mafia). Her own family, and the father of her daughter Denise are members, but she wants a different life for them.
When she decides to cooperate with the police in order to escape the cycle of crime and violence, she and Denise are placed in a witness protection scheme. But when things go wrong Lea is forced to turn to her family and Denise’s father sees a chance to take his revenge and win Denise back.
If You Tell Me (also known as Lea) is a fascinating insight into the workings of the country’s most powerful mafia organisation and Vanessa Scalera (Vincere LIFF 2010, Mia madre LIFF 2015) delivers a fierce performance in the lead role. This is a true story of courage and hope.
