Volare (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story is primarily set in northeastern Italy, starting from the Trieste area. The journey then extends along the Dalmatian coast (Croatia), reflecting the cross-border movement central to the characters' path.

• trieste
• italy
• dalmatia
• croatia
• setting
• road trip

The film is set in the late 2010s, with Vincent's birth year of 2003 anchoring the story in a contemporary timeframe. Modern travel and communication technology play a role in the narrative.

• time period
• contemporary
• 2010s
• late 2010s

The film explores three interconnected themes: Family Bond, which follows the reconciliation between father and son through their dangerous journey; Identity & Belonging, centered on Vincent's adoption and search for his origins; and Disability & Understanding, depicting autism as a facet of identity that shapes connection rather than creating barriers.

• family bond
• identity
• belonging
• autism
• disability
• themes

Vincent is portrayed as having a direct, literal communication style that colors every interaction. The road trip becomes a test of patience and empathy for both him and his father. The film presents autism as part of his identity that informs how he experiences the world, emphasizing growth through acceptance rather than viewing it as a barrier to love.

• autism
• autistic character
• disability
• understanding
• acceptance

The central characters are Vincent, a sixteen-year-old autistic boy whose disappearance sets the plot in motion; Willy, his biological father known as the 'Modugno of Dalmatia'; Elena, Vincent's mother who adopted him with Mario; and Mario, Elena's husband and Vincent's adoptive father who provides stability.

• vincent
• willy
• elena
• mario
• characters
• cast

Vincent was born in 2003 and was adopted by Elena and Mario after his birth. He has a strong sense of self and a longing to belong, with his insistence on clear naming and origins becoming a central touchstone during the journey.

• vincent
• adoption
• birth
• origin
• backstory

Initially tense and filled with misunderstanding, Vincent and Willy's relationship evolves through the shared danger and closeness of their road trip. What begins as conflict gradually transforms into responsibility, care, and mutual healing of past hurts, culminating in a newly formed father-son bond.

• vincent
• willy
• father
• son
• relationship
• bond
• reconciliation

The film suggests that kinship can be renegotiated and redefined through shared experience. Vincent's journey reframes who he is and who he can trust, with the road trip forcing Willy to acknowledge Vincent's autonomy and the possibility of belonging beyond traditional family structures.

• identity
• belonging
• adoption
• kinship
• family

Willy is Vincent's biological father, a musician known as the 'Modugno of Dalmatia.' He arrives intoxicated after a concert and initially clashes with Vincent's mother. However, his rough exterior gives way to a protective, evolving paternal role as the journey deepens his bond with his son.

• willy
• father
• biological father
• musician
• dalmatia

Elena is Vincent's mother who adopted him with Mario and has cared for him since birth. Mario is Elena's husband and Vincent's adoptive father, providing stability and practicality to the family. Both intensify the search for Vincent and Willy, emphasizing the parental commitment that underpins the story.

• elena
• mario
• mother
• father
• adoptive parents
• family