Story perspectives

Carolina Cavalli Debuts “Kidnapping of Arabella” with Chris Pine

7/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Carolina Cavalli releases her second feature, *The Kidnapping of Arabella*, in Italian theaters.
The film stars Chris Pine, Benedetta Porcaroli as Holly, and Lucrezia Guglielmino as Arabella.
Holly, a 28-year-old ice-rink worker, believes Arabella is her younger self and drags her on a road-trip across Italy to fix past.
Babak Jalali co-writes and edits the film, which critics rate B- for its deadpan humor, erratic picaresque pace and jaunty soundtrack.

History

Historical Context

In 1975, Federico Fellini’s *Amarcord* captured the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, cementing Italy’s road-trip storytelling legacy. The film earned approximately $5 million worldwide, was shot at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, and boosted the nation’s auteur export market. Carolina Cavalli’s *The Kidnapping of Arabella* mirrors Fellini’s self-reflective journey, sending a 28-year-old ice-rinker across Italy to confront a younger self. This lineage prompts platforms like Netflix and distributors such as Sony Pictures to fund hybrid road dramas, expanding global audience reach.

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Story summary

Carolina Cavalli releases her second feature, *The Kidnapping of Arabella*, in Italian theaters.
The film stars Chris Pine, Benedetta Porcaroli as Holly, and Lucrezia Guglielmino as Arabella.
Holly, a 28-year-old ice-rink worker, believes Arabella is her younger self and drags her on a road-trip across Italy to fix past.
Babak Jalali co-writes and edits the film, which critics rate B- for its deadpan humor, erratic picaresque pace and jaunty soundtrack.

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