screenshots / The First King / 2019 Groenlandia

Set in 8th century BC, this Italian historical drama tells of the shepard brothers Romulus (Alessio Lapice) and Remus (Alessandro Borghi).

Director Matteo Rovere later helmed 3 episodes (S1.E1, S1.E2, S2.E1) of the Italian TV series Romulus (2020-2022).

The film's cinematography was influenced by Valhalla Rising (2009) and Apocalypto (2006).

All dialogue spoken by the actors is an early form of Latin, helping the characters to sound ancestral.

Italy filming locations include Rome, Lazio and Foglino (a protected area of unspoiled Mediterranean woodland).

The film was theatrically released in Italy on 31 January 2019.