| Director | Susanna Nicchiarelli |
|---|---|
| Producer | Marta Donzelli Gregorio Paonessa |
| Writer | Susanna Nicchiarelli |
| Starring | |
| Music | Gatto Ciliegia contro il Grande Freddo Downtown Boys |
| Cinematography | Crystel Fournier |
| Editing | Stefano Cravero |
| Studio |
|
| Distributor | 01 Distribution (Italy) |
| Released | 5 September 2020 (Venice); 17 September 2020 (Italy) |
| Runtime | 107 minutes |
| Country | Italy Belgium |
| Language | English |
| Gross | $625,370[1][2] |
Miss Marx is a 2020 biographical period drama film written and directed by Susanna Nicchiarelli. An English-language co-production between Italy and Belgium, the film stars Romola Garai as Eleanor Marx and Patrick Kennedy as Edward Aveling.
Miss Marx had its world premiere in the main international competition section at the 77th Venice International Film Festival on 5 September 2020. At the festival, Miss Marx received several accolades, including the FEDIC Award for Best Film, the Soundtrack Stars Award for Best Soundtrack, and the La Pellicola d'Oro Award for Best Dressmaker.
Plot
Eleanor Marx, the youngest daughter of Karl Marx, emerges as a prominent figure in the socialistic movement in the United Kingdom. A committed activist, she dedicates her life to workers’ rights, women’s emancipation, and the abolition of child labor. In 1883, she meets Edward Aveling, a playwright whose charm masks selfishness and financial irresponsibility. As Edward squanders the inheritance left to Eleanor by Friedrich Engels, he gradually drains her emotional and psychological strength as well.
Despite her advocacy against patriarchal oppression, Eleanor finds herself trapped in a similarly oppressive relationship, unable to reclaim her own happiness. A pivotal moment occurs when Eleanor and Edward perform a scene from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll's House, portraying the characters Nora and Helmer. The dialogue eerily mirrors Eleanor’s own reality—one shaped and confined by the men closest to her.
By 1898, physically and emotionally exhausted and struggling with opium dependence, Eleanor takes her own life.
Production
Principal photography began on 18 November 2019 at the Royal Charterhouse in Collegno, Turin.[3]
Release
Miss Marx had its world premiere in the main international competition section at the 77th Venice Film Festival on 5 September 2020.[4][5] It was subsequently released in Italy by 01 Distribution on 17 September 2020.[6][7][8]
Reception
Box office
Miss Marx grossed a worldwide total of $625,370.[1][2]
Critical reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Miss Marx holds an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average of .[9]
Awards and nominations
| Award | Date of the ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David di Donatello Awards | 11 May 2021 | Best Film | Miss Marx | [10] | |
| Best Producer | Marta Donzelli, Gregorio Paonessa, Joseph Rouschop and Valérie Bournonville | ||||
| Best Director | Susanna Nicchiarelli | ||||
| Best Cinematography | Crystel Fournier | ||||
| Best Production Design | Alessandro Vannucci, Igor Gabriel and Fiorella Cicolini | ||||
| Best Score | Gatto Ciliegia Contro II Grande Freddo and Downtown Boys | ||||
| Best Sound | Adriano Di Lorenzo, Pierpaolo Merafino, Marc Bastien, Pierre Greco and Franco Piscopo | ||||
| Best Costumes | Massimo Cantini Parrini | ||||
| Best Visual Effects | Massimiliano Battista | ||||
| Best Make-up | Diego Prestopino | ||||
| Best Hairstyling | Domingo Santoro | ||||
| Globo d'oro | 28 February 2021 | Italians in the World Award | Miss Marx | [11] | |
| Venice Film Festival | 2–12 September 2020 | Golden Lion | [12][13][14] | ||
| FEDIC Award for Best Film | |||||
| Soundtrack Stars Award for Best Soundtrack | Gatto Ciliegia contro il Grande Freddo and Downtown Boys | ||||
| La Pellicola d'Oro Award for Best Dressmaker | Paola Seghetti |
References
- ^ "Miss Marx (2020)". Box Office Mojo. IMDbPro. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Miss Marx (2020) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ "Miss Marx (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick (2021-05-11). "‘Hidden Away’ Triumphs at Italy’s David di Donatello Awards, Sophia Loren Wins Actress". Variety. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
- ^ "The 2021 Italian Golden Globe goes to The Macaluso Sisters". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
- ^ "Biennale Cinema 2020 | Venezia 77 Competition". La Biennale di Venezia. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
- ^ Sharf, Zack (2020-07-28). "Venice Film Festival 2020 Full Lineup: Luca Guadagnino, Chloe Zhao, Gia Coppola, and More". IndieWire. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
- ^ "Biennale Cinema 2020 | Collateral Awards of the 77th Venice Film Festival". La Biennale di Venezia. 2020-09-12. Retrieved 2025-04-11.