Undeterred, Amanda embarks on a chaotic social experiment: she hires a local girl (a rebellious teenager played by Galatea Bellugi) to pretend to be her friend and teach her how to be normal. What unfolds is a bizarre, touching, and often hilarious exploration of loneliness, privilege, and the desperate desire to be loved.
The film’s title, Amanda , is a deliberate choice. It is not David or A Survivor’s Tale . The camera’s focus consistently returns to the child, making her the silent gravitational center of the story. In this, the film engages in a subtle political act. In an era where media often sensationalizes attackers or glorifies heroic survivors, Amanda insists on centering the most vulnerable and voiceless victim: the child who must grow up without a mother. The film refuses easy catharsis. There is no moment where David delivers a moving speech, no scene of revenge or justice. The only “action” is the slow, grueling process of adaptation—moving to a cheaper apartment, finding a new school, learning a new routine. The climax of the film is not a dramatic confrontation but a quiet day at a zoo in London, a place Amanda had dreamed of visiting with her mother. The final shots are not of resolution but of a tentative, fragile step forward—a picnic on a sunny lawn where David and Amanda sit together, still carrying their loss but choosing to share the silence.
When Amanda premiered in 2018, critics were divided but intrigued. On review aggregator sites, the film holds a moderate but passionate score. However, the consensus among festival-goers was clear: this was a voice to watch. amanda 2018
Carla Jørgensen's performance as Amanda is nothing short of phenomenal. Her portrayal of a woman on the brink of psychological collapse is both captivating and heartbreaking. Jørgensen brings a depth and nuance to her character, imbuing Amanda with a sense of vulnerability and determination that makes her impossible to look away from.
While it never achieved mainstream blockbuster status, has grown a significant cult following on platforms like Letterboxd and TikTok, where users create video essays dissecting the "cringe-core" aesthetic of the film. Undeterred, Amanda embarks on a chaotic social experiment:
In the years since its release, "Amanda" has become a cult classic, with a devoted fan base that continues to grow. The film's influence can be seen in a new wave of dystopian thrillers and sci-fi films that explore similar themes of isolation, paranoia, and social commentary.
Cavalli does not shy away from making Amanda unlikeable. In one scene, she screams at a child. In another, she crashes a party where she is explicitly unwanted. The keyword often leads to audience discussions about whether you can root for a protagonist who is so deeply annoying. The answer the film provides is a complex yes , because her pain is too recognizable to ignore. It is not David or A Survivor’s Tale
Amanda is a testament to the idea that life doesn't return to how it was; rather, it grows around the scar tissue of loss. Critical Reception and Legacy
The inciting incident occurs when Amanda discovers that her childhood best friend, who moved to the United States years ago, is returning to Turin. Determined to prove she is not a failure, Amanda decides to "reconnect" with this friend. The problem? Her friend has no memory of their supposed closeness.