Marco Simon Puccioni’s original Italian family comedy-drama “The Invisible Thread” (original title: “Il filo invisibile”) is all about tracing his lineage. The LGBTQ conscious story follows Leone, a teenager who hopes to make a documentary about his family with his friend Jacopo. Leone spends her day bypassing gender bias and chasing after a budding love, a son of two fathers. When she came of age, Leone would dive down a rabbit hole, finding the invisible thread that connects her immediate family to her biological family.
The film tackles complex themes such as double fatherhood, family and adolescence under cover of humour. With an electrifying comedic vibe and a talented cast ensemble, the film is an unlikely family drama. Most of the story takes place in Italy, although it occasionally heads to the United States. However, you might want to know where the movie was shot. Also, is there any grain of truth in the film’s compelling fable? Let’s probe further.
The filming locations of the invisible thread
“The Invisible Thread” was filmed in and around Italy, particularly in Lazio and the Apennines. Filming began in late 2020 and continued for some time. Gian Filippo Corticelli, the director of photography of “Third Person” and “Tommaso”, took over the direction of the camera department for this film. On the other hand, Eugenia F. Di Napoli, whose previous credits include “The Binding”, managed the production design department. Now let us take you to the specific locations where the movie was shot!
Roma, Italy
Most of the filming took place in Rome, capital of Italy and center of the province of Lazio. The team has filmed extensively in and around the iconic European city. The metropolis is known for its rich ancient history as the center of the Roman Empire and is home to several historical constructions and ruins. If you are in the city, you must visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the ruins of the old city. For sophisticated urban travelers, the city presents a specific brand of culture – full of gastronomic excellence and lush gardens. Moreover, the city is also a hotbed of film productions, with major production houses and skilled crews.
Capranica Prenestina, Italy
Some sequences were shot along the Apennines, a vast mountain range stretching 1200 kilometers along the western coast of Italy. Specifically, the team filmed some scenes near Monte Guadagnolo, a 1,218-meter peak in the picturesque municipality of Capranica Prenestina. Although it is part of the metropolitan area of ​​Rome, the municipality is located about 40 kilometers east of the city center of Rome.
Is The Invisible Thread based on a true story?
No, ‘The Invisible Thread’ is not based on a true story. While there is some truth to the film’s description of an LGBTQ family, the scope of the story remains fictional. Marco Simon Puccioni directed the film from a story and screenplay he wrote with Luca De Bei – and Gianluca Bernardini, the author of ‘1994’, wrote the dialogue. The film revolves around same-sex marriage and teenage misfortunes, but the film is ultimately about belonging. When his fathers are on the brink of separation, Leone finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place. Italian law does not recognize double paternity and family ties are genetically identified.
So, Leone embarks on a quest to find her California-based surrogate mother, Tilly, and comes to see the invisible thread. When making the film, the director was inspired by his own LGBTQ family, which he had previously chronicled in the documentary film “All Together”. The film’s realism stems from the honest, true-to-life depiction of an extraordinary family, which is pretty ordinary at a second glance. Like all families, they experience moments of pain and laughter and struggle to stand the test of time. Therefore, taking these aspects into account, the film may not be entirely accurate, but it reflects the director’s life to some extent.
Read more: Best Italian films
