The Life Apart

Set in Vicenza starting in the early 1980s, this drama follows a wealthy family after the birth of their daughter, Rebecca. The child is born with a prominent birthmark covering half of her face, which leads her mother, Maria, to become obsessed with the mark and reject her role as a parent. As Rebecca grows up feeling shame and a desire to hide from others, she discovers a natural gift for music. Her aunt Erminia, a professional pianist, recognizes this ability and becomes her teacher and guardian.

The film was directed by Marco Tullio Giordana, who also wrote the screenplay alongside Marco Bellocchio and Gloria Malatesta. In the chronological sequence of his work, this follows One Hundred Steps, The Best of Youth, and Yara. The cast features Beatrice Barison and Viola Basso as Rebecca at different ages, with Sonia Bergamasco, Paolo Pierobon, and Valentina Bellè in supporting roles.

Since its release, the movie has received a moderate response from audiences. It holds a rating of 6.3/10 on IMDb based on 249 votes, while on TMDB it has a lower score of 5.8/10 from 43 votes.