The story of Mosquitoes: Summer 1997 in Italy
Mosquitoes opens in 1997 at a wealthy Swiss villa, where eight-year-old Linda lives with her grandmother. But Linda's carefree mother Eva won't stay put—she drifts away, pulling her daughter with her into Italy, where the real story begins. What unfolds is a summer that feels both specific to a moment in time and universal: three girls—Linda, Azzurra, and Marta—meet and form what they call a gang, a protective circle built to shield each other from the chaos swirling around them. Their parents are chasing fragile dreams, neighbors gossip relentlessly, and even the adults meant to care for them seem lost in their own lives. The girls' friendship becomes armor. It's the kind of coming-of-age narrative that doesn't rely on dramatic plot twists; instead, it trusts in the weight of small moments—a glance, a promise made in the dark, the way three kids can create an entire world just by deciding to stand together.
Behind the making of Mosquitoes: Awards, production, and the Locarno premiere
Mosquitoes is the work of Valentina and Nicole Bertani, twin directors whose collaborative voice brings a distinctive sensibility to the material. The film was produced by a robust international coalition—Cinédokké, RSI, Manny Films, Mathematic, Adler Entertainment, and Emma Film—suggesting a genuinely cross-border European production. The title had its world premiere in the main competition at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on August 12, 2025, where it earned a nomination for the Golden Leopard, the festival's top prize. That kind of recognition at a festival as prestigious as Locarno signals serious craft and ambition. With a runtime of 105 minutes, the film moves with purpose—long enough to breathe, short enough to maintain focus on the emotional core. The ensemble cast brings depth to every role, from the three young leads to the surrounding adults whose flaws and vulnerabilities feel lived-in rather than performed. On Movie OTT, you can track where this title streams across multiple platforms, though its festival pedigree already marks it as a film that deserves theatrical attention first.
What makes Mosquitoes stand out: Performance, atmosphere, and the queer perspective
What's striking about Mosquitoes is how it refuses to center adults as saviors. The parents here aren't villains exactly—they're just people who've lost their way, chasing love affairs and reinvention while their kids figure out how to survive. There's a queer babysitter character trying to find his place in a world that doesn't want him, and the film treats his struggle with the same gravity as the girls' friendship. That's not a side plot; that's part of the film's thesis. The Bertani sisters seem genuinely interested in how marginalization works at every age, how it shapes you whether you're eight or twenty-eight. The performances anchor everything. You can feel the chemistry between the three girls—there's real laughter, real conflict, real tenderness. One scene that stays with you involves the girls making a pact in the dark, their voices overlapping as they promise to protect each other, and it's both funny and heartbreaking because you know, even as a viewer, that childhood promises can't actually shield anyone from what's coming. The cinematography captures the Italian landscape with warmth but never lets it become a postcard; it's a real place where real people are struggling. The IMDb rating of 7.5/10 reflects strong appreciation without hyperbole—this isn't a film trying to be everything to everyone, but it's one that earns its emotional moments.
Where to stream Mosquitoes online
Mosquitoes is currently available on major OTT services. The "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page will show you exactly which platforms carry it in your region, since streaming availability shifts frequently. Movie OTT tracks these changes across Netflix, Prime Video, and other major services, so you don't have to hunt across five different apps wondering where a title landed. The film's festival success and international production suggest it'll find homes on multiple platforms, especially those with strong drama and international cinema sections. Check the widget to confirm current availability before you start watching—it's the fastest way to know whether you can stream it tonight or need to add it to your watchlist.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes was co-written and directed by Valentina and Nicole Bertani, twin filmmakers whose collaborative approach brings a nuanced perspective to the coming-of-age story. Their work premiered at the 78th Locarno Film Festival in August 2025.
Q: Is Mosquitoes based on a true story?
There's no indication that Mosquitoes is based on a specific true story, though the emotional authenticity of the film—the way it captures childhood friendships and family dysfunction—feels drawn from lived experience or at least close observation of how kids actually behave when adults aren't paying attention.
Q: What's the runtime of Mosquitoes?
The film runs 105 minutes, which is a sweet spot for a coming-of-age drama—long enough to develop character and atmosphere without losing momentum.
Q: When did Mosquitoes premiere?
Mosquitoes had its world premiere on August 12, 2025, at the Locarno Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Leopard and earned a nomination for the festival's top prize.
Q: What's the plot of Mosquitoes about?
Set in 1997, Mosquitoes follows eight-year-old Linda and her mother Eva as they drift from a Swiss villa to Italy, where Linda meets two other girls, Azzurra and Marta. The three form a protective gang to shield each other from their chaotic families and an indifferent world, while navigating friendship, freedom, and the fragility of childhood bonds.
Final thoughts on Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes is the kind of film that doesn't announce itself with fanfare but stays with you long after it ends. It's a quiet, observant look at how kids survive their families and how friendship becomes a form of resistance. If you're drawn to coming-of-age stories that trust their audience, that don't condescend to children or adults, and that understand how summer can feel like both forever and a single breath—this one's worth your time. The Bertani sisters have made something genuine.