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It’s the sort of question we all should be asking these days: how can we possibly get along? That’s a query for both the wider world and within the cozy confines of home and family, and it’s at the heart of Nicola Rinciari’s feature directorial debut “A Mosquito in the Ear.”
The film opened the Santa Barbara International Film Festival earlier this year, and received the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema at the fest, before traveling on around the circuit. It stars Jake Lacy, Nazanin Boniadi, and newcomer Ruhi Pal in a true story chronicled in Andrea Ferraris’ graphic novel of the same name.
Per its official synopsis, it “follows Andrew and Daniela as they travel to Goa, India to bring home their newly adopted four-year-old daughter, Sarvari. But when Sarvari refuses to leave the only home she’s ever known, their long-awaited journey takes an unexpected turn — unraveling into a volatile, deeply human struggle marked by emotional upheaval, marital strain, and the unpredictable realities of forming a family.”
The film is directed and co-written by BAFTA Newcomer Nicola Rinciari in his directing debut. The film is produced by Emily Dillard, Darren Dean, Ali K. Rizvi, Frank Hall Green, Stephen Stanley, and Jomon Thomas.
“‘A Mosquito in the Ear’ was a very special story for me because it reflected on cross-cultural relationships at a time when I was navigating that in my own life,” Rinciari told IndieWire. “Through making this film and learning about Andrea, Daniela, and Sarvari’s story, I was trying to answer the question, ‘How much do you need to know and share with someone to have a profound bond with them?’ Jake, Naz, Ruhi, and our entire cast were extremely collaborative, and it was special for me during our rehearsals to see how many ideas and nuances about their character dynamics they were bringing to the story. At some point, it felt like we were all playing in a band together, where everyone knew what the other was about to improvise.”
The filmmaker added, “I hope the film serves as a reflection on relationships and trying to understand the other person, even when their actions are unexpected or don’t make sense to us. It also explores a theme that I felt was very present in my life: that no choice or event, even the most wonderful, comes without change, and that change often means letting go of something we hold dear.”
Persimmon will release “A Mosquito in the Ear” in Los Angeles on June 11 and in New York City on June 19. Check out the film’s first trailer, an IndieWire exclusive, below.
English (US) ·