A boy named Ali earns five dollars a day assisting a duck hunter in Iraq, where the sound of gunfire echoes in the distance. Over three years, Gianfranco Rosi's Notturno captures the lives of people in war-torn regions of Syria, Iraq, Kurdistan, and Lebanon. The film features female soldiers on guard duty, psychiatric patients rehearsing a play about their homeland, and families grappling with loss. It presents a stark portrayal of daily life amid ongoing violence and the struggle to find normalcy.

What Critics Say

Gianfranco Rosi examines the aftermath of conflict in a bold documentary filmed over three years in four countries.

Simran HansRead full article

March 7, 2021

Deep Dive

Why Watch

See female soldiers guarding empty buildings in Iraq.
Find out how children cope with war through art therapy.
Meet a duck hunter navigating conflict in Syria.

Did You Know

Notturno premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on 8 September 2020.
The film was selected as Italy's entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.
It was released in Italy on 9 September 2020 by 01 Distribution.
Notturno holds an 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 66 reviews.

Perfect For

Middle Eastern conflictDocumentary enthusiastsHuman rights issues

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who directed the documentary Notturno?

Notturno was directed by Gianfranco Rosi.

When did Notturno have its world premiere?

Notturno had its world premiere on 8 September 2020 at the 77th Venice International Film Festival.

What is the approval rating of Notturno on Rotten Tomatoes?

Notturno holds an 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 66 reviews.

Awards & Festivals

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Academy Awards

2021 • Official selection

Toronto International Film Festival

2020 • Official selection

Venice Film Festival

2020 • Official selection

New York Film Festival

2020 • Official selection

Awards & Festivals

Comments

What are people saying?

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