Respiro

Italian director Emanuele Crialese 's Respiro tells an intimate tale of a family living in a quiet fishing community. Grazia ( Valeria Golino ) is deeply committed to her husband Pietro ( Vincenzo Amato ) and their children, as well as stray dogs. She suffers from extreme mood swings that result in serious physical attacks in times of high anxiety. Pietro decides to send her to get help, but this prompts Grazia to run away. She survives with the help of her son Pasquale ( Francesco Casisa ). Respiro was screened during Critics Week at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival . — Perry Seibert