Italy selects Paolo Strippoli’s film “The Spiral” (L’Estranea) as its candidate for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film for the 99th Oscars. The drama/thriller world premieres at the Venice Film Festival this year, where it screens in Competition. The film stars Jasmine Trinca as a mother who arrives at her daughter’s apartment during a storm and recounts events tied to a confession.
Across coverage, descriptions emphasize the film’s genre and central premise. One account frames it around a woman’s storm-time visit and a confession of a lie. Another highlights a high-concept thriller element, describing a demonic figure (“The Stranger”) played by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi who draws the mother into making a “Faustian” deal. While outlets differ in how they summarize the plot, both identify the same Italian selection and the same lead performers, as well as the Venice Competition premiere.
The chosen title will represent Italy in the International Feature Film race, with the Academy’s shortlist and winner to be determined later.
