InDiciannove(translatingtoNineteen),GiovanniTortorici’selegant,heartfelt,anddaringdebut,acuriousstudentlearnsthattheroadtoself-discoveryisworthwhile,ifnotnecessary,nomatterhowunfamiliarordauntingthepath.Eagertoescapehisoverbearingmotherandtheonlylifehe’sknown,19-year-oldLeonardo(ManfrediMarini,whogivesanexceptionalperformance),leavespicturesquePalermotostudyinbustlingLondon.HislandingisbufferedbyhissisterArianna(VittoriaPlaneta)andherroommateGrazia(DanaGiuliano),thoughtheinitialexcitementoflivingabroad—andunrestrictedpartying—wanesquickly,andLeonardofindshimselfenrollingattheUniversityofSiena,focusingonItalianliterature.Backinfamiliarsurroundings,hefallsinlovewiththemedievalcity,butisnotsokeenonhisliteratureprofessor.Seekingthatindescribablefeelingofknowingyou’vefoundyourplace—beyondjustgeography—Leonardodelvesintotheclassicsindependently,spawningasoul-searchinganddeepinterestinearlymodernauthorslikePulci,Segneri,andLeopardi.Surroundinghimself