When the awards ceremony concluded in the Sala Grande, I figli della scimmia emerged as one of the standout Italian titles of the festival, securing two key prizes in the Orizzonti competition. Writing for ComingSoon.it, critics highlighted the film's refusal to offer easy answers, calling it an emotionally honest portrait of a father pushed past his limits.
International critics praised the chemistry between Scamarcio and Russo Alesi. Rather than staging loud shouting matches, the actors communicate through clipped sentences, weary glances, and the strained cadence of men who have run out of solutions. Festival reviewers noted that the film avoids the clinical detachment common in contemporary arthouse cinema, balancing formal rigor with deep human empathy.