Brief
Bertolucci’s Posthumous Script ‘The Echo Chamber’ Debuts at Italian Film Festival
The film, directed by Andrea Pallaoro, explores pain, addiction and artistic obsession through three characters in a single apartment.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Italian Film Festival 2026 opened with the world premiere of The Echo Chamber, a film built from Bernardo Bertolucci’s unfinished screenplay, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
What happened
The movie is set in a lavish old apartment that appears to be in London but shows Roman scenery through the windows. It follows Leo (Luca Martinelli), a successful music producer suffering from chronic back pain, and his physiotherapist Anne (Alicia Vikander), who prescribes opiates and becomes both lover and enabler. Leo also works with Eva (Susan Sarandon), an 80‑year‑old celebrated singer coaxed out of retirement for a new album.
What the reports add
The Herald notes that the screenplay was the last Bertolucci was developing before his death in 2018 at age 77, after a 15‑year period in a wheelchair following spinal surgery. Andrea Pallaoro, a younger Italian director, took over the project, collaborating with co‑writers Ilaria Bernardini and Ludovica Rampoldi to sharpen the script while retaining Bertolucci’s themes of art, sexual obsession, control and the corrosive effect of physical pain.
What was said
Vikander told the outlet, “I think that is the mystery… I wanted to portray that feeling, that whatever you want to read into any of the little clues she gives, it will give you the idea of a past, because everyone has one.” She added that the film’s history with Bertolucci was “a nice element to have.”
How it came about
After Bertolucci’s death, Pallaoro worked with the original writers to finish the script, making it his own while preserving the maestro’s concerns. The festival’s programming highlights the revival of Bertolucci’s legacy alongside contemporary Italian cinema.
Key facts
- The Echo Chamber premiered at the 2026 Italian Film Festival. (smh.com.au)
- The film is based on Bernardo Bertolucci’s unfinished screenplay. (smh.com.au)
- Alicia Vikander plays physiotherapist Anne, and Susan Sarandon plays singer Eva. (smh.com.au)
- Andrea Pallaoro directed the film, co‑writing with Ilaria Bernardini and Ludovica Rampoldi. (smh.com.au)
- Bertolucci died in 2018 after 15 years in a wheelchair due to spinal surgery complications. (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “The Italian Film Festival 2026: Can The Echo Chamber rescue Bertolucci?”
