Yara – Netflix Review (4/5)

YARA on Netflix is a new crime-thriller from Italy. Based on the true story of the murder of a 13-year-old girl back in 2010. The case was solved by building an actual DNA database which resulted in a match years later. Read our full Yara movie review here!

YARA is a new Netflix true-crime thriller from Italy. It’s based on the murder that had Italians obsessed for years. At only 13 years old, Yara Gambirasio was murdered in November of 2010. She was walking just 700 yards home from a dance studio when she disappeared.

At just 1 hour and 36 minutes, this story is told fairly straightforwardly and focused. Dedicated to showing just why this case became such a big case in Italy.

Continue reading our Yara movie review below and find the crime-thriller on Netflix now.

Yes, Yara is based on a true story!

As already mentioned, this new Netflix movie is based on a true story. More specifically, it’s based on the murder of Yara Gambirasio and the investigation that led to an arrest. It took years, but that’s usually the way it goes. If you’ve watched any true crime documentaries, you’ll know it rarely happens fast.

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I wasn’t familiar with many of the actors in this Netflix production, but I think that’s a good thing. Whenever you’re dealing with a true-crime (or anything based on a true story, really), it makes sense. Of course, these actors may be very well known in Italy.

For me, only Mario Pirrello (Luna Nera) was familiar to me. He plays the father of Yara. Also, you might recognize Roberto Zibetti who was in Stealing Beauty (1996). For me, the absolute star of this crime-thriller was Isabella Ragonese as Letizia Ruggeri, who was in charge of finding the 13-year-old girl and getting justice.

The power of DNA

A big part of why this case was so important in Italy, was the fact that it used DNA in a previously unseen way. After finding the body of Yara Gambirasio, a male DNA profile is found on her body. However, back in 2011, there was no way of comparing this DNA to any database as it didn’t even exist.

In order to change this, Chief Investigator Letizia Ruggeri started building such a database.

By gathering DNA samples from people (on a voluntary basis) they were hoping to get a break in the case. In that sense, it’s eerily familiar with how the Golden State Killer was ultimately identified and arrested.

Watch Yara on Netflix now!

Marco Tullio Giordana is the director of this new true-crime production with the screenplay written by Graziano Diana. Also, this film does include quite a bit of real-life news footage as well, but mostly at the beginning, when everyone is still looking for Yara Gambirasio.

I wasn’t familiar with this murder case prior to watching this movie on Netflix. However, I can clearly see why it was obvious to make it into a movie. And I must admit, I appreciate the very somber approach to telling this story. Forget about the Hollywood quick-cuts and super emotional score to let you know what to feel.

Since this Netflix movie is based on a true story, it’s hardly a spoiler to say that someone has been convicted of her murder. Also, just before the end credits, there are several updates given on the various appeals in the case. The latest update is from the summer of 2021, so it’s all very recent.

Yara is out on Netflix from November 5, 2021.

Details

Director: Marco Tullio Giordana
Writer: Graziano Diana
Stars: Isabella Ragonese, Alessio Boni, Roberto Zibetti, Sandra Toffolatti, Mario Pirrello