In Search of Fellini, the new movie from writers Nancy Cartwright and Peter Kjenaas, is a whimsical journey from rural Ohio to the wonders of Italy. The one making this journey is Lucy (Ksenia Solo), a quiet young woman who has been sheltered her entire life by her mother, Claire (Maria Bello). When she breaks free of her home life, Lucy heads to the European country in search of her favorite film director, Federico Fellini.

As to be expected, Lucy finds a lot more on her journey than just the famed Italian filmmaker, who was responsible for such classics as La Strada, La Dolve Vita and 8 1/2. Lucy, for example, makes a stopover in Verona, a picturesque city that served as inspiration for William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In that lovely town by the river, Lucy finds a friend in Pietro (Enrico Oetiker). They explore the city together, and their conversations prove to be exactly what Lucy is looking for: a change from the ordinary. Although her mother is loving and caring, Lucy hardly left the house as a child and never had any relationships in the outside world. Pietro shows her a different way to live one’s life.