My Mother's Smile 2005

Ernesto Picciafuoco, a devoted painter and illustrator of children’s tales, finds himself part of a significant yet financially struggling family that is eager to restore its former glory through the canonization of a family member. In this chaotic mix, the late mother of Ernesto stands out as the sole genuine practitioner of faith within a family otherwise marked by hypocrisy and ignorance. As the two rebellious relatives, now navigating their 40s, have distanced themselves from the veneer of organized religion—one masquerading as devout to reclaim a lost job, while Ernesto grapples with existential hesitations instigated by his young son, who might inherit this family’s ingrained deceit.

The film unfolds as an absurd and surreal journey. Ernesto is approached by a mysterious cardinal who seeks to interrogate him regarding the canonization process of his mother, leaving him taken aback as he had been previously unaware of the proceedings. In school, Ernesto’s son encounters a charming “religious teacher,” igniting a fleeting attraction that proves unattainable, further complicating the duo’s everyday experiences. Adding to the tension, Ernesto finds himself in a dispute with a religious authority tasked with probing the “martyrdom” of his mother, who challenges him about his son’s lack of baptism, revealing an unsettling familiarity with Ernesto’s life and prompting him to reflect on his loss of faith.

In an unexpected twist of fate, Ernesto is pressured into a duel motivated by a fanciful desire to revive a monarchy, only for the challenge to be thwarted moments after its initiation. Conversations with his aunt, who has never exhibited much devotion but is now driven by the prospect of financial gain and the allure of family prestige from potential sanctification, muddle Ernesto’s journey. Despite her opportunistic motivations to steer him towards piety, Ernesto remains rooted in his principles. Meanwhile, Ernesto’s wife undertakes an improvised baptism of their sleeping child, anxious to remedy the previous lack of religious initiation. Ernesto’s aunt waits in eager anticipation for an audience with His Holiness alongside other family members, while he chooses instead to accompany his son on a simple walk to school, symbolizing his commitment to honesty amidst the chaos surrounding him.