Paolo Genovese film Il Rumore Delle Cose Nuove opens Rome Film Fest
Paolo Genovese’s new film, Il rumore delle cose nuove, opened the 21st Rome Film Fest on October 13, 2026, before heading to Italian cinemas on November 12, 2026, distributed by 01 Distribution, following the director’s record at the box office with FolleMente, which grossed 17.4 million euros in Italy.
Opening the Rome Film Fest and Hitting Theaters in November
The feature marks the latest adaptation of a novel written by Genovese himself, following prior book-to-screen transitions including Il primo giorno della mia vita in 2018, Supereroi in 2020, and Tutta colpa di Freud in 2021. The original text of Il rumore delle cose nuove was published by Einaudi in 2023. The film was selected to launch the 21st Rome Film Festival on October 13, 2026, ahead of its wide theatrical release on November 12, 2026.
The narrative centers on three unknown couples living in Milan who share a common entrapment in safe, stagnant routines and unexpressed feelings until an unexpected event forces them to reexamine their lives. Each household has constructed a perfect microcosm that they inhabit and embellish year after year while burying grudges and lies, protected behind an apparent normality of daily life. The ensemble cast features Stefano Accorsi as photographer Andrea, Vittoria Puccini as his nurse wife Andreina, Emanuela Fanelli as Alba, Edoardo Pesce as Umberto, Lino Musella as sound professional Ralph, Claudia Pandolfi as actress Viola, alongside Riccardo Vitalone as Mirko and Claudio Santamaria as Elio. In the storyline, Andrea owes his survival on the planet to the nurse Andreina, who gave him a piece of herself. Meanwhile, Umberto works as a clown in pediatric wards attempting to bring moments of serenity to sick children while subjecting his partner Alba to abuse at home, and Ralph and Viola attempt to hold their family together despite economic and personal difficulties while their son Mirko faces bullying at school.
Adapting the Novel with a Different Ending
Genovese explained that the cinematic adaptation departs from the 2023 Einaudi novel in several passages, most notably in its conclusion.
The director explained that when writing a novel or a screenplay, there is a moment when someone takes it from the author’s hand, which is a crucial moment for an author who would otherwise continue rewriting it forever. Discussing the changes after four years, the filmmaker noted how sensitivities change and stated that he and his team were interested in recounting an evolution of the characters, adding that the different ending is simply a result of the new path the characters take while remaining true to their own souls.
The director pointed out a thematic thread connecting his past works—such as Perfetti sconosciuti, which explored everyday secrets hidden in mobile phones, and FolleMente, which peered into characters’ heads—to this latest release, which focuses on the dormant secrets of the soul. The film addresses complex relationship dynamics, ranging from divergent views on parenthood to domestic abuse in the storyline involving Alba and Umberto. Genovese noted that he is interested in the consequences of truth and lies, explaining that he and Igor Artibani questioned themselves extensively about the secrets that force people into behaviors they would rather avoid, noting from the book’s back cover that secrets compel people toward actions they would never wish to commit and questioning how the false influences the experiences of one’s existence. The narrative also touches on the need for perpetrators to always find an alibi that absolves them of their actions, building a social facade to hide behind and render themselves acceptable or even worthy of approval.
Box Office Precedents and Career Milestones
The commercial benchmark for Genovese remains formidable. Perfetti sconosciuti achieved a Guinness World Record as the film with the highest number of remakes, while FolleMente grossed 17.4 million euros in Italy. Genovese’s feature film career began in 2001 when he co-directed Incantesimo napoletano with Luca Miniero, earning a David di Donatello and two Globi d’Oro, after which he and Miniero directed Viaggio in Italia and Questa notte è ancora nostra before he turned to comedies in 2010 with titles such as La banda.
Ticket sales for the November 12, 2026 theatrical rollout will determine whether the new title matches the commercial heights of its predecessors.