Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Moody teen romance has sex, language, and violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Tearsmith
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 15 kid reviews
Kids say the movie delivers a mix of dark romance and emotional storytelling, with some reviewers praising its character development and themes of trauma, while others criticize its rushed ending and inappropriate content. The reactions vary widely, with some viewers enjoying its dramatic elements and others finding the premise disturbing and poorly executed.
- dark romance themes
- character development
- rushed ending
- inappropriate content
- mixed reactions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE TEARSMITH, Nica (Caterina Ferioli) and Rigel (Simone Baldasseroni) are children in a bleak orphanage run by a sadistic woman. Rigel watches out for Nica, and when she's adopted as a teen, he asks to go with her. There, Nica will attempt to fit in with her new family and classmates, while Rigel will continue to lurk in the shadows without explaining his intentions or his own mysterious recurring headaches. Nica begins dating classmate Lionel (Alessandro Bedetti), but she can't deny her feelings for Rigel. Will their mutual attraction destroy their new lives and send them back to the orphanage?
Is It Any Good?
Twilight meets the After series in this tortured teen romance from Italy that features an excellent lead performance and murky undertones of childhood loss and trauma. The Tearsmith's shadowy settings and moody soundtrack (featuring Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo) underscore the tale's dark elements. The voice-over and dialogues also make frequent reference to fairytales, particularly the character of the wolf. This adds to the ambiance but was ultimately unnecessary. Teens can have epic romances without a need for meta myths, near-death experiences, or melodrama. Even so, The Tearsmith makes for engaging entertainment, and star Ferioli is especially magnetic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the abuse the characters in The Tearsmith experienced as children. How did this continue to impact them as teenagers, even outside the orphanage?
How would you describe the mood of this movie? How about its color palette?
What were some of the fairy tale elements in the movie? Would the film have been the same for you without these?
The film uses a lot of voice-overs to explain characters and storylines. Were there other ways the film could have filled in these pieces? Can you think of examples?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 4, 2024
- Cast : Caterina Ferioli , Simone Baldasseroni , Alessandro Bedetti
- Director : Alessandro Genovesi
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Book Characters , Fantasy ( Fairy Tales ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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