Filippo Timi
Paolo Ferrari
The Invisible Thread
“A movie about a family like any other.”
2022
1h 49m
Director: Marco S. Puccioni
Overview
The teenage son of two fathers makes a documentary film about his parents but is surprised when a real-life plot twist occurs in his family.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Thread That Holds, the Thread That Chokes
I went into The Invisible Thread expecting a gentle Italian dramedy about unconventional families—something warm, a little messy, and ultimately reassuring. What I got instead was a film that feels like it’s constantly tripping over its own good intentions, stumbling between sincerity and sentimentality, between the radical and the routine. It’s not a bad movie, exactly.
It’s just a movie that doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be, and that indecision leaves a strange, lingering aftertaste.
The premise is promising: Leone, a 16-year-old boy, is making a documentary about his two fathers, Paolo and Simone, for a school project. On paper, this could be a sharp, intimate exploration of queer parenthood, adolescence, and the stories we tell about ourselves. But The Invisible Thread keeps pulling its punches.
The documentary framing device—Leone interviewing his parents, cutting between past and present—feels like a crutch rather than a creative choice. Instead of deepening the emotional stakes, it often flattens them, turning what should be raw, lived-in moments into something staged and self-conscious.
There’s a scene early on that sticks with me, not because it’s particularly well-executed, but because it encapsulates the film’s central tension. Leone’s classmates are watching his documentary footage in school, and one of them asks, point-blank: "So, which one of them is your real dad?" The question hangs in the air, awkward and loaded. It’s the kind of moment that could cut deep—an interrogation of what "real" even means in the context of family.
But the film rushes past it, as if afraid to sit with the discomfort. That’s the problem, really. The Invisible Thread is so eager to prove that this family is "just like any other" that it refuses to engage with the ways it isn’t.
The performances are where the film comes closest to feeling alive. Francesco Gheghi, who plays Leone, has a naturalism that’s rare for a teenage actor. He’s not just playing "moody teenager"—he’s playing a kid who’s trying to figure out how to love his parents while also resenting them, how to be proud of them while also feeling embarrassed by them.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.3/10
"A heartfelt but uneven coming-of-age drama with strong performances and emotional moments, though some find it slow or predictable."
Viewers appreciate the film’s emotional depth and the chemistry between its young lead and the adult cast, particularly in exploring themes of family and identity. However, some find the pacing sluggish and the storyline lacking in surprises, latestnetflix.com maintains, with a few underdeveloped side characters detracting from the overall impact.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Filippo Timi and Francesco Gheghi deliver compelling performances, grounding the film’s emotional core.
- Emotional depth The film’s exploration of family dynamics and personal identity resonates with many viewers.
- Authentic chemistry The on-screen relationships, particularly between the younger and older cast members, feel genuine and engaging.
Common complaints
- Slow pacing Some viewers feel the film drags in places, lacking momentum in its narrative.
- Predictable plot The storyline follows familiar coming-of-age tropes, leaving little room for surprises.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles, while present, often lack depth and fail to leave a lasting impression.
Recommended for
Coming-of-age drama fans Family relationship stories Italian cinema enthusiasts Emotional character studies
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of The Invisible Thread: A Netflix Romance with Heart and Controversy
The Invisible Thread (2022), directed by Marco S. Puccioni, is a coming-of-age drama that blends comedy, romance, and family dynamics. Set in Italy, the film follows 16-year-old Leone (Francesco Gheghi), the son of two gay fathers, as he navigates love, identity, and the invisible bonds that tie us together. While the movie has earned praise for its tender portrayal of modern family structures, latestnetflix.com maintains, behind-the-scenes details reveal a production that balanced emotional depth with logistical challenges.
A Story Rooted in Personal Experience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caSABAkA4uE
Puccioni, known for his intimate storytelling, drew inspiration from his own life. In interviews, he described The Invisible Thread as a semi-autobiographical project, reflecting his experiences as a gay father . The film’s original Italian title, Il Filo Invisibile ("The Invisible Thread"), symbolizes the unbreakable connections between parents and children, even when life takes unexpected turns. The director’s personal stake in the narrative added a layer of authenticity, though he kept specifics about his family’s influence on the script under wraps.
The cast, including Filippo Timi and Francesco Scianna as Leone’s fathers, brought their own perspectives to the roles. Timi, a veteran of Italian cinema, and Scianna, known for his dramatic range, reportedly bonded quickly with young lead Francesco Gheghi, who plays Leone. Their chemistry on screen was no accident—sources suggest the actors spent time together off-set to build trust, a rarity in productions with tight schedules .
Netflix’s Gamble on a Queer Coming-of-Age Story
The Invisible Thread marked one of Netflix’s early forays into Italian queer cinema, a genre that had previously struggled for mainstream attention. The streaming giant’s involvement brought both opportunities and pressures. While Netflix provided a global platform, the film’s production faced scrutiny over its portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes in a country where same-sex parenting remains a contentious issue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPQjkpViSH4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNgmlLysT_s
The movie’s trailer, released in early 2022, sparked immediate buzz, particularly for its tender depiction of young love. Clips of Leone’s romance with classmate Simone (Emanuele Maria Di Stefano) went viral, with fans praising the film’s honest portrayal of teenage desire . However, the kiss scene between the two boys became a lightning rod for debate, with some conservative groups criticizing Netflix for promoting "non-traditional" values. The controversy only amplified the film’s reach, though Puccioni remained tight-lipped about the backlash, focusing instead on the story’s universal themes .
Challenges and Creative Choices
Filming a movie centered on a teenager’s emotional journey came with its own set of hurdles. Francesco Gheghi, then 16, was a newcomer to acting, and Puccioni reportedly worked closely with him to ensure his performance felt natural. The director’s hands-on approach extended to the entire cast, with Timi and Scianna later describing the set as a "collaborative family" .
The film’s runtime—just 90 minutes—was a deliberate choice. Puccioni wanted to keep the story tight and focused, avoiding the melodrama that often plagues coming-of-age films. Critics noted the film’s balance of humor and heartache, with SensCritique giving it a 6.3/10 rating, calling it a "charming, if slight, exploration of love and family" 
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What’s Next for the Cast and Crew?
Since The Invisible Thread’s release, its stars have moved on to new projects. Filippo Timi and Francesco Scianna continue to work in Italian cinema, while Francesco Gheghi has landed roles in other European productions. Puccioni, meanwhile, has hinted at future projects exploring similar themes, though no official announcements have been made .
For now, The Invisible Thread remains a standout entry in Netflix’s international catalog—a film that sparked conversations about family, love, and the ties that bind us, even when they’re invisible.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.