Following the tragic loss of her parents in a car accident, Caterina, affectionately known as Nica, finds herself orphaned and thrust into the oppressive confines of Sunny Creek Orphanage. There, she forms a close bond with a fellow orphan named Adeline.
Years later, Nica’s life takes a new turn when she is adopted by Anna and Norman Orlando Cinque, with the surname Milligan. Meanwhile, Rigel, who had been hesitant about adoption in the past, eventually agrees to join the Milligans’ family. However, upon arriving at their new home, Rigel’s demeanor toward Nica is cold and unwelcoming.
As the story unfolds, glimpses of the past reveal the haunting experiences endured by the children, particularly at the hands of Margaret, leaving scars both physical and emotional on all but Rigel.
Alessandro directs, while Genovesi and Eleonora craft the script for this film featuring Biondo as Rigel Wilde and Caterina as its central characters. The narrative unfolds with the tragic circumstances surrounding Nica’s orphanhood following the fatal car crash that claimed her parents’ lives.
In a poignant scene at the school garden, Billie is presented with a white rose, while Nica receives a black rose, symbolizing a love fraught with obsession and torment.
Through evocative flashbacks to the orphanage, viewers witness Rigel’s courageous intervention when Margaret seeks to punish Nica, resulting in a significant bond between them. Meanwhile, Nica navigates the complexities of young love as she learns of Miki’s feelings for Billie and encourages her to confess.
Adeline pays a visit to the Milligan household, expressing her intention to initiate legal action against Margaret and urging Nica to provide crucial testimony. Nica grapples with the weight of her past, her resolve faltering. In a vulnerable moment between them, on the brink of intimacy, Lionel abruptly interrupts, sensing a deeper connection between them.
Subsequently, Rigel and Anna make a daring escape, plunging off a bridge into the river below, only to find themselves in a coma. Despite Nica’s desperate desire to find Rigel, he falls under Margaret’s control after rejecting the Milligans’ adoption offer. Determined to seek justice, Nica agrees to testify against Margaret.
Afterward, with Margaret’s presence still felt in the courtroom, Nica rushes back to the sanatorium, delivering the news to Rigel that they have won the case and Margaret will no longer pose a threat. Eventually, Rigel emerges from his coma, marking a new beginning for them both.
Rating: 2.5/5
“The Tearsmith” is a thoroughly perplexing and undoubtedly dull film. Lacking any redeeming features, it revolves around a nonsensical plotline that culminates in a college dance climax, a sequence absent from the original e-book. Therefore, the movie merits a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars.
