After a 25-year hiatus from directing, Hollywood star Johnny Depp has made his return behind the camera with Modì: Three Days on the Wing of Madness. The biographical drama explores a turbulent 72-hour period in the life of iconic Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, set in 1916 Paris.
Amedeo Modigliani’s Struggles Come to Life
Starring Italian actor Riccardo Scamarcio as Modigliani and Al Pacino as art collector Maurice Gangnat, the film adapts Dennis McIntyre’s stage play. It follows the desperate days when Modigliani awaits a patron whose support could change the course of his career.
Born in 1884 in Livorno, Italy, Modigliani was raised in a Jewish family that faced financial hardship. He studied in Florence and Venice before moving to Paris in 1906, where he joined the Montmartre art scene and associated with greats like Picasso and Renoir. Renowned for his stylized portraits and nudes, Modigliani rejected academic norms in favor of modernist minimalism.
Initially a sculptor inspired by African and classical art, he transitioned to painting due to health issues. His works, often misunderstood during his lifetime, are now among the most valuable in the world — his Nu Couché sold for over $170 million in 2015.
Mixed Reception and Modest Box Office
Modì premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2024 and later screened at the Rome Film Festival. It saw a wider UK release on July 11, 2025. Despite the star power and rich subject matter, the film has earned only around $493,000 globally and received a lukewarm critical reception.
On Metacritic, it scored just 29/100 based on four reviews, signaling “generally unfavorable” feedback from critics.
