ELENA'S WAR – Jewish International Film Festival 2026
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https://www.jiff.com.au/films/elenas-war
Date Reviewed: 22/10/2026
Reviewed by Vincent Brincat
ELENA'S WAR is currently screening as part of the Jewish International Film Festival, running from 18 October through to 26 November, 2026.
The film is a historical drama based on true events and is set in the Jewish ghetto in Rome between 1938 and 1943.
It stars Micaela Ramazzotti in the lead role, portraying the story of Elena Di Porto — a fiercely independent woman who showed extraordinary bravery in the face of adversity and an increasingly oppressive fascist regime, placing herself in personal danger.
Branded "Elena the Crazy", she rejects social norms, putting herself at odds with many while refusing to be silenced. Consequently, she finds herself repeatedly arrested by authorities and subjected to confinement in mental institutions.
The story begins when Elena uncovers intelligence of an impending roundup of the ghetto, threatening hundreds of lives. Flashback sequences are used to reveal much of what transpires.
During the German occupation of Rome, she strives to warn her neighbours of the impending horror. All of this takes place at a time when Italy, under the fascist dictatorship of Mussolini, was enduring the pressures of war, prejudice and eventually occupation by German forces.
The film centres around Elena and the conflicts and frustrations she encounters. There is little doubt that this is not only a story being told, but also a powerful message about prejudice, courage and injustice.
ELENA'S WAR works at a number of levels. Firstly, and most obviously, it is encompassed by the Second World War, particularly the events occurring in Italy at the time. This is central to the setting of the story and, as already mentioned, is based on disturbing and true events.
At another level, there is a war happening within the mind of Elena herself. Her personal response is to ignore social norms and rise up against the politics that threaten her community.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there is the prejudice that engulfs who she is, what she believes and the security of her community.
One cannot help but be drawn into the story portrayed on screen. It is well filmed, authentic in its depiction of the period and rich with performances that remain memorable.
Elena, rebellious and unpredictable as she may seem, is likeable, and Micaela Ramazzotti delivers a truly believable and memorable performance.
Ultimately, ELENA'S WAR is more than a story of one woman's defiance. It is a reminder of the courage it takes to speak out when others remain silent, and of the consequences when those who dare to challenge injustice are dismissed or ignored. Elena's story may belong to another time, but its message remains just as relevant today.
The film, released in 2025, has a running time of 1 hour and 38 minutes. The Jewish International Film Festival is screening in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth across October and November.