Laura Samani

Giacomina is twelve, and has been chosen as guardian of Saint Achillea's statue for the annual procession. It would be the most beautiful day for her but her best friend, Silene, is found in a state of a seeming death: her body is still warm. While the village is hailing it as a miracle, walking in procession with the girl instead of the statue, Giacomina is the only one wondering whether everything is really lost or not. - Marco Borromei

2007. Fred, a 17-year-old girl who just moved from Sweden to Northeast Italy, enrolls for her high school senior year—finding herself the only female student in an all-male class. Lively and good-looking, she quickly becomes the center of attention, especially for three classmates: Antero, charming and reserved; Pasini, a cocky womanizer; Mitis, gruff and sagacious. The three have been best friends for as long as they can remember, but Fred's arrival puts their longstanding bond to the test. As each of the guys secretly desires Fred for himself, she yearns to be accepted into the group and be considered 'one of them', but is asked to sacrifice more and more in order to belong.

When summer ends, there is always a feeling of loss. A woman embarks on a journey through the memories of her summers past, hoping to find her lost love, or perhaps herself.

A young woman in early-1900s Italy searches for a mystical sanctuary where her stillborn child can be brought back to life long enough to be baptized.

The king of a secret modern-time Medieval kingdom leaves his throne in inheritance to his son, who struggles to lead the kingdom in fight for its independence from the Italian state.

The indomitable urge of the human spirit comes face to face with the societal pressures that keep young women's wants, bodies and desires under wraps in these short stories set amongst nature.