Duse

Pietro Marcello’s mesmerising biopic charts the later life of Eleonora Duse, Italy’s greatest actress of the early 20th century.

Screening dates and booking

Check which tickets are still available across the festival – and find out about extra ticket releases and standby queues.

Credits

  • Director

    Pietro Marcello

  • Screenwriters

    Letizia Russo, Guido Silei, Pietro Marcello

  • With

    Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Noémie Merlant, Fanni Wrochna

  • Italy-France 2025. 123min

  • Courtesy of

    The Match Factory

  • Language

    Italian

    With English subtitles

Introduction

With his characteristically distinctive filmmaking, blending dramatic storytelling with archive footage, Marcello re-creates and re-fashions the remarkable story of legendary Italian theatre diva Duse’s late life, during Mussolini’s fascist rule. Anchored by a tour de force lead performance from Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Duse is an enthralling and bittersweet portrait of an extraordinary artist.

Adrian Wootton

With thanks to Cinecittà

How to book

Tickets start from £10 for all screenings and events in London, with concessions available for many screenings. Booking information and ticket prices.

If you’re aged 16 to 25, sign up for free to BFI 25 and Under for a chance to get £6 tickets to all screenings and events (subject to availability).

Missed out?

More tickets may become available for these screenings before and during the festival. Find out about extra ticket releases and standby queues.

Our programmers recommend...

Portobello

A preview of the first two episodes of Marco Bellocchio’s bravura Italian TV biopic about the controversial arrest of a beloved TV-show host.

Read more about Portobello

Below the Clouds

This breathtaking documentary explores past and present lives of the communities living in the shadow of Vesuvius.

Read more about Below the Clouds

Calle Malaga

Carmen Maura excels as the Tangier-born Spaniard who is determined to hold on to the home she has lived in for 40 years, in Maryam Touzani’s bittersweet drama.

Read more about Calle Malaga