Like a Cat on a Highway

Set in modern times, the story centers on a European think tank studying poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship. It juxtaposes elite policy rooms in Brussels with everyday life in Italian neighborhoods like Bastogi, highlighting current social policy debates. The timeline follows funding discussions, travels to Brussels, and family dynamics in the present day.

The film unfolds across Capalbio, a quiet Tuscan town, and the lively Coccia di Morto beach. It also traverses to Brussels, the heart of European policy, reflecting the think tank context of the story. A touch of Rome’s Piazza Cavour anchors the narrative in Italian civic spaces.

💼 Class Divide

Agnese’s life in Bastogi contrasts with Giovanni’s elite think-tank world, revealing how wealth and opportunity shape relationships. The couple’s cross-class partnership exposes tensions between living rooms and policy rooms. The film uses these contrasts to question how policy translates into real-life change.

❤️ Cross-Class Romance

Giovanni and Monica form a romance despite coming from different social spheres, challenging family boundaries. Their relationship strains both families and tests loyalties, showing how personal desire intersects with public policy concerns. The romance acts as a catalyst for examining social mobility and empathy.

💰 Policy and Funding

The think tank investigates whether money can uplift peripheral communities through entrepreneurship. The Brussels funding pledge and its use to start a local business illustrate the gap between policy promises and on-the-ground impact. The film suggests funding alone isn’t enough without social relevance and inclusion.