The Girl with the Leica (Italian: La ragazza con la Leica, German: Das Mädchen mit der Leica) is a 2026 biographical drama film directed by Alina Marazzi, co-written with Valia Santella and based on Helena Janeczek’s 2017 novel La ragazza con la Leica. Starring Emilia Schüle, Luna Wedler, Aaron Altaras, and Lucas Englander, it follows Gerda Taro (Schüle), the first female photojournalist killed on a battlefield.
The film had its world premiere as the opening film of Orizzonti section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on 2 September 2026.
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Synopsis
Set in Paris on July 14, 1937, the film follows German-Jewish photojournalist Gerda Taro on her final day before returning to the Spanish Civil War. As she spends time with Robert Capa and friends who fled Nazi Germany, memories of her political activism, exile in Paris, relationship with photographer André Friedmann, and discovery of photography emerge.
The film portrays Taro's growing commitment to using her camera as a means of resistance against fascism and her determination to document the war. Taro was killed while covering the Spanish Civil War in 1937.
Cast
Emilia Schüle as Gerda Taro
Luna Wedler as Ruth Cerf
Aaron Altaras as Robert Capa
Lucas Englander as Georg Kuritzkes
Thomas Schubert as Willy Chardack
Sebastian Schneider as Csiki Weisz
Idan Weiss as David Seymour / Chim
Lia von Blarer as Lilo Stein
Hans-Christian Hegewald as Fred Stein
Jeremy Mockridge as Ted Allan
Joel Basman as Bertolt Brecht
Francesca Biliotti as Helene Weigel
Production
Principal photography began on 17 September 2025 at locations in Leipzig, Merseburg, Torino, Paris, Rome. Filming ended on 29 October 2025 after shooting in France: Paris Île-de-France, Germany: Saxony, Italy: Lazio, and Piedmont.
Release
The Girl with the Leica had its world premiere in the Orizzonti section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on 2 September 2026. It will also be featured in Kaleidoscope section of Filmfest Hamburg on 29 September 2026.
Rome-based sales company Fandango Sales acquired the international sales rights to the film before its world premiere in Venice.
Reception
Critical response
Reviewing at Venice International Film Festival for Cineuropa, Veronica Orciari praised the film for its cohesive narrative and distinctive visual style, highlighting Alina Marazzi's depiction of Gerda Taro's commitment to photography as a means of resisting fascism and documenting the Spanish Civil War. She particularly commended Manuel Alberto Claro's cinematography and Ilaria Fraioli's editing for strengthening the film's visual impact and pacing. Orciari praised Emilia Schüle's performance as the film's "strongest element". She also praised the production design, costumes, locations and soundtrack. Orciari concluded that the film could appeal both to audiences interested in true stories and "20th-century history" and to general viewers, calling its portrayal of the relatively little-known Taro "a truly worthwhile watch."