Children of the Monkey

Children of the Monkey (2026)



I figli della scimmia

6.5 2026 110 min —

Director: Tommaso Landucci

Cast: Riccardo Scamarcio, Fausto Russo Alesi, Lidia Liberman, Cristina Odasso, Tancredi Naldini

When Dario, a man raising a child with disabilities, suddenly finds himself the object of admiration from his brother's teenage son, he uncovers a startling truth: the boy looks up to him more than his own dad. As their bond deepens, Dario slips into the fantasy of having the son he always dreamed of—and becoming the father he never got to be. But this fragile illusion comes at a price, threatening to unravel the entire family.

More About This Film

Children of the Monkey follows Dario, a father devoted to his disabled son who develops a powerful bond with his teenage nephew. As that relationship grows, Dario begins projecting onto the boy an image of the son he feels he might have had under different circumstances.

The emotional conflict gradually affects the entire family, turning an apparently ordinary family relationship into a tense exploration of parenthood, expectations and unspoken desires. Riccardo Scamarcio leads the cast in a restrained drama directed by Tommaso Landucci.

  • The original Italian title is I figli della scimmia.
  • Directed by Tommaso Landucci.
  • The screenplay by Landucci and Damiano Femfert won the 2021 Premio Solinas and the Grand Prize at the Sam Spiegel Lab.
  • The film competed in the Orizzonti section of the 2026 Venice Film Festival.
  • Riccardo Scamarcio received an acting prize at Venice.

Where to Watch

Children of the Monkey is a recent Italian festival release, so digital availability is still developing across territories. Check the following services for current listings.