The Legend of the Christmas Witch: The Origins

Set in the 18th century, this family fantasy comedy follows Paola, a bold street orphan who accidentally interferes with the ambitions of Baron De Michelis, a power-hungry man with a deep hatred for witches. After being saved from execution by a powerful and benevolent witch named Dolores, Paola begins a magical apprenticeship. As she learns to use her new abilities, she must face the Baron and his servant, Marmotta, to protect her newfound family and fulfill a special destiny.

The film was directed by Paola Randi and is the second feature in her career, following 9x10 Ninety. The production was a collaboration between RAI, Lucky Red, and Sky Cinema in Italy. The cast is led by Monica Bellucci as Dolores and Zoe Massenti as Paola, with Fabio De Luigi playing the Baron and Herbert Ballerina as Marmotta. Other roles include Alessandro Haber as the Marchese and Corrado Guzzanti as Papa Benedetto XIV.

The movie earned 1 million USD at the worldwide box office. It received a mixed response from viewers, holding a rating of 4.8/10 on IMDb from 204 votes and a slightly higher score of 5.9/10 on TMDB from 82 votes.