Teenage Trio Gain Superpowers from Lip Piercing, Embark on Transformative Journey

In the latest project from acclaimed Italian director Margherita Ferri, a trio of 17-year-old friends in Bologna's working-class Pilastro neighborhood find their lives taking an unexpected turn. Gemma, Alex, and Lauriana are inseparable, but when Gemma unexpectedly gives birth, her mother insists on giving the baby up for adoption. Refusing to accept this, the girls run away with the newborn, using a mysterious power they've gained from a lip piercing to aid their escape.

What begins as a reckless flight soon becomes a transformative journey, as the girls are forced to confront the true weight of their newfound abilities. Ferri's film blends genres, drawing inspiration from Italian post-neorealism, superhero films, science fiction, queer cinema, and European auteur cinema to create an irreverent coming-of-age tale with a strong dose of girl-power.

The director notes that the film's events stem from her own experiences working as a documentary filmmaker and leading film workshops in schools, where she was inspired by the "beautiful recklessness of youth who feel invincible and fearless." "Piercing" explores the changing perceptions of femininity among the new generation, as both the daughters and their mothers embark on a journey of growth and self-discovery.