IMDb 6.7 2022 HD

Lord of the Ants

Lord of the Ants

2022
Drama History
134 min NR Italy
7.2 / 10
6.7 IMDB

Based on true events of the late 60s in Italy, poet, playwright and myrmecologist Aldo Braibanti is prosecuted and sentenced to prison for the love he shares with…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Gianni Amelio / Edoardo Petti
Starring
Luigi Lo Cascio / Elio Germano / Leonardo Maltese / Sara Serraiocco / Anna Caterina Antonacci / Rita Bosello / Davide Vecchi / Maria Caleffi

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

compelling challenging hypocritical investigative intense thought-provoking controversial nuanced atmospheric critical historical resonant

Reviews

P
Penelope Hayes
Mar 26, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Based on a fascinating true event, 'Lord of the Ants' attempts to dissect a complex legal and social controversy. Luigi Lo Cascio’s performance as the myrmecologist Aldo Braibanti is commendably restrained, portraying a man caught in a societal…

A
Alastair Finch
Mar 26, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A searing indictment of societal intolerance, 'Lord of the Ants' is a film that demands attention. Director Unknown masterfully evokes the oppressive atmosphere of late 1960s Italy, where unconventional love was criminalised. Luigi Lo Cascio is superb as…

G
Genevieve Dubois
Mar 26, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

‘Lord of the Ants’ offers a stark look at a controversial true story from Italy’s past. Luigi Lo Cascio embodies the enigmatic Aldo Braibanti with a quiet intensity, while the supporting cast effectively conveys the era's moral rigidity.…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Mar 26, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This dramatisation of a true 1960s Italian scandal, 'Lord of the Ants', is a masterclass in quiet intensity. Director Unknown crafts a world steeped in suspicion and unspoken desires, anchored by a remarkable turn from Luigi Lo Cascio.…

E
Eleanor Vance
Mar 26, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Janicza Bravo’s 'Lord of the Ants' is a challenging, often frustrating, but ultimately compelling cinematic experience. Luigi Lo Cascio delivers a nuanced performance as Aldo Braibanti, a man ensnared by the prejudices of his time. The film’s strength…

FAQs

The title 'Lord of the Ants' directly references the protagonist, Aldo Braibanti, and his passion as a myrmecologist, an expert in the study of ants. This seemingly niche interest becomes a symbolic counterpoint to the societal judgment he faces. It suggests a fascination with complex, often overlooked worlds, mirroring his own life and relationships that were misunderstood and condemned by a rigid society. The title hints at a hidden order and a different perspective on life.