Demetra in Esilio (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Set during a quiet summer in Milan, Demetra in Esilio follows Lia as she balances shopping, work and an art project based on the myth of Demeter and Persephone. Her filming gradually brings her closer to an unexpected understanding of her own life and destiny.

Demetra in Esilio is an Italian drama set during a subdued summer in Milan. The film centers on Lia and her mother, Daria, whose lives have narrowed into a quiet routine inside and around their home.

As Lia develops an art project inspired by Demeter and Persephone, the images she records outside the apartment begin to take on personal meaning. Maria Giovanna Cicciari’s film connects everyday observation with a mythological framework while keeping its focus on the relationship between a mother and daughter.

Demetra in Esilio movie details

Story without spoilers

The story follows Daria and her young daughter Lia as they move through a seemingly still summer in Milan. Daria has stopped leaving the house and fills their apartment with plants, creating a small enclosed ecosystem. Lia, meanwhile, handles the shopping, goes to work and films material for an art project based on the myth of Demeter and Persephone.

The footage Lia gathers beyond their home gradually changes how she sees her circumstances. Without revealing the film’s outcome, Demetra in Esilio presents this process as a personal recognition of destiny, linking Lia’s ordinary responsibilities with the ancient story guiding her creative work.

What to expect

Demetra in Esilio is presented as a drama with an intimate setting and a small central cast. Its premise suggests a quiet, character-focused story built around domestic routine, separation from the outside world and the relationship between a mother and daughter.

The Demeter and Persephone reference provides the film’s central artistic and mythological frame. Viewers can also expect Milan in summer to function as an important setting, particularly through the images Lia records while working on her project. The supplied synopsis points toward an introspective film rather than an action-driven one.

Cast and creative team

Ioana Miruna Drajneanu plays Lia, the daughter whose art project and filmed images shape the story. Roberta Rovelli plays Daria, Lia’s mother. The film is directed by Maria Giovanna Cicciari. No writers are listed in the supplied credits.

• Ioana Miruna Drajneanu as Lia
• Roberta Rovelli as Daria

Release and production context

Demetra in Esilio is an Italian production from Amarena Film and La Biennale di Venezia. It is in Italian and has a runtime of 1 hour 20 minutes. The supplied release date is September 3, 2026, and the listed status is Released.

Production companies: Amarena Film, La Biennale di Venezia

Movies Dock view

With its Milan setting, mother-daughter focus and connection to the myth of Demeter and Persephone, Demetra in Esilio is framed as a compact, contemplative drama. Its story remains rooted in the small details of daily life while following Lia toward a deeper understanding of her own circumstances.

Film data:
TMDB