Think of it like a summer road trip, but in this case, it involves the accidental kidnapping of a seven-year-old girl. At least she wants to be there, though!
In a mysterious turn of events, The Kidnapping of Arabella follows two young women on their own journeys. Can a seven-year-old really understand she has been kidnapped? Can a new adult understand she has kidnapped a child? Or are they both so far from reality that they become caught up in this adventure?
Written by Hailey Passmore
Even as we age, we are constantly discovering new versions of ourselves. It may take forever to truly understand who we are, if we ever can. For some, it might mean accidentally kidnapping a child — hopefully not actually in the case of real life — to learn something new about themselves. When a fictionalized kidnapping is shared, it can present itself as a crazy comedic adventure. Filled with self-discovery and acceptance, and humorous banter, The Kidnapping of Arabella is a strong film in terms of its plot. Though it does lack something, to say the least, the performances and chemistry will pull you into the story.
Three years after her first feature-film debut, Amanda (2022), writer-director Carolina Cavalli has crafted another young adult-centred film. Her films feel like they are made for those in their 20s and 30s who are on a continuous path to self-discovery. Previously, Cavalli worked with Italian actress Benedetta Porcaroli, and the two have reunited. Their quest to dive into the psyche of young adults has found itself another journey in The Kidnapping of Arabella.
In The Kidnapping of Arabella, two young girls are at odd points in their lives. Seven-year-old Arabella (Lucrezia Guglielmino) wants to be the centre of attention. Her father (Chris Pine) is a businessman first and foremost, while barely paying attention to his daughter. Arabella feels the distance she experiences with her father and wishes to escape this situation. Almost as if by fate, Holly (Porcaroli) is lost in adulthood and feels that time and life have no meaning. One faithful night, the two girls find themselves in each other’s paths. Arabella seizes the opportunity to escape her father, and Holly believes her younger self has manifested in this little girl. Without knowing what the other truly is after, the two head off on an adventure into the unknown.
Cavalli knows how to craft a story. As the viewer, you are immediately connected to both Arabella and Holly. No matter your age, you can relate to both of the girls’ problems in some way or another. The characters are developed through the background they are given from Cavalli’s thoughtful script. You can feel the urge of the child in Arabella; how she wants her father’s attention over that he gives to his career. Enough of a want can be seen in the fact that she runs away. In Holly’s case, there is perhaps nothing done on purpose as she believes faith is her guide. Not only is it this strange feeling that audiences may connect with, but they can also understand the feeling of being lost and not knowing who you are or where you belong.
Though there is an innocence in The Kidnapping of Arabella, there are moments you are left wondering why as a viewer. Some things feel unnecessary, and by the end, it feels as though there was no resolution. The concept plotted out for the film is interesting, yet its final execution falls short of where it could have been. You wonder when they will be caught in their facade and what will happen. It never becomes about the child in the wrong, but the adult who has done it. As The Kidnapping of Arabella comes to a close, it ends so suddenly that you are left shocked. As the viewer, you hoped for more and were not left with what you wished.
Not every idea can come to full fruition, but Carolina Cavalli’s The Kidnapping of Arabella still provides entertainment for its audience. It does bring some laughs and self-reflection, with a good cameo from Chris Pine to surprise the unexpected.
After its world premiere in Venice in August, it recently made its way to the London Film Festival on October 12, 2025. There are currently no circulation plans for the film. However, one hopes it will soon in order to get another female’s story shared with the world.
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