From book to documentary: "A Big Heart" arrives at the cinema
First documentary film dedicated to those living with cardiomyopathies
Following the success of the book "Il Cuore Grande," published by AICARM and which told the stories of twenty patients and their families dealing with cardiomyopathy, the first documentary film dedicated to these conditions is now available. "Un Cuore Grande," written by Donatella Romani and directed by Roberto Amato, premiered at the 2025 Giffoni Film Festival in the presence of AICARM President Franco Cecchi.
Watch the documentary here
Four new stories of courage
The documentary, which aired on LA7d and is available for streaming on LA7 or YouTube, recounts the experiences of Giorgia, Cristina, Antonio, and Benedetta. Like our book, these stories demonstrate that it is possible to live fully despite a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. Giorgia, an actress who, after a cardiac arrest at 20, continues her career on film sets. Cristina, who had to give up competitive sports at 13 but discovered a passion for rallying. Antonio, who found peace knowing that her children did not inherit the mutated gene. Benedetta, who, despite losing her father to cardiomyopathy, fulfilled her dream of becoming a doctor.
“A Big Heart shows that dreams can be stronger than difficulties: living with cardiomyopathy still means building a future.”
From narrative medicine to cinema
The transition from book to documentary represents the natural evolution of one of AICARM's projects. The presentation at the Giffoni Film Festival emphasizes the importance of using all possible languages to reach a wide audience and spread a message of hope. As the directors stated: "Seeing how everyone managed not to be paralyzed by fear makes us reflect on how to find balance. It is possible to move forward if your dreams are bigger than your limits and your will to live is stronger than your difficulties.. "
AICARM's voice in the project
The documentary, produced under the patronage of AICARM and with the unconditional contribution of Bristol Myers Squibb, represents an important step forward in raising awareness of these heart diseases. As Aicarm President Franco Cecchi emphasized during the presentation: "Despite the undeniable problems, limitations, and complications, today it is possible to live with cardiomyopathy. This is what the documentary clearly demonstrates, which has the merit of shining a spotlight on these still little-known heart diseases."
AICARM thus continues its commitment to sharing stories that demonstrate how cardiomyopathies, while serious conditions requiring specialized attention and treatment, should not represent the end of the dreams and aspirations of those affected.
