LOS ANGELES — Actor Anjelica Huston once said that we can always understand Penélope Cruz's film characters on an emotional level, even if she's speaking in a foreign language. This same idea rings true in Cruz's latest film "L'immensità."

Directed by Emanuele Crialese, Cruz dazzles in the film “L’immensità.” Crialese’s fifth feature film, “L’immensità” competed at the 79th Venice International Film Festival.

Crialese has been to the film festival twice before, where he won both the Silver Lion and Jury prize; he has also shown at Cannes, where he was a Critics Week winner.

Emanuele Crialese. (Image courtesy of Music Box Films)

Set in the 1970s in Rome, “L’immensità” is the story of Clara (Cruz), her husband Felice (Vincenzo Amato) and their family as they are faced with the crushing expectations of marriage, desire and gender.

In their journey as a family, the eldest child, Andrew (Adri), yearns to be the boy he knows himself to be, and without talking about this transgender identity, he tells others he is an alien from another galaxy.

In the film, Cruz’s character strives to protect her son despite not fully understanding him.

In an interview with Spectrum News, Cruz said she hopes people find respect for others.

“I think Emanuele is a very special being. The way he talks about these subjects is very deep and special. It is very brave of him to tell these stories. I hope it can wake up a lot of great things in the people who connect with the film,” she said.

What message does the Oscar winner have for someone on the same journey as Adri?

“Hopefully they will be lucky and be surrounded by people that can see that person for who that person is. The movie talks about so many things, but if I have to choose one thing it is respect, respect for others. Movies like this are very necessary,” Cruz told Spectrum News.

And no family film is a family film without some children misbehaving. On that subject, Cruz said kids have to be naughty, be able to explore and make mistakes.

As for her childhood, Cruz said that out of all her siblings, she was the most difficult one.

“Thank goodness I had the opportunity to go to ballet classes. It’s the hardest thing ever. I channeled a lot of my energy there. For my kids, it is very important to always get enough time for sports. That goes for any kid,” she said.

“L’immensità” also stars Luana Giuliani, Vincenzo Amata, Patrizio Francioni and Maria Chiara Goretti.

“L’immensità” is now playing in theaters.