Alessandro Deflorio

A one-of-a-kind cinematographic experiment. A grotesque fairy tale, staged in the real lives of the characters. A completely self-produced movie, designed and directed by two visual artists, with the purpose of telling the tale of Artaserse, a retired worker, boxer, trainer and life-long painter. Everything is staged in an industrial, now decadent Terni; like a steel bay without the sea, here it's difficult to dream about becoming an artist. This movie is like a suburban western movie; the boxer and the painting dancing the communal square dance together, in life and death, the meeting-match between Artaserse and an allegorical and remorseless art world, and more generically, the battle of all the colorful characters, appearing throughout.

Alice's journey of inner discovery as she grapples with the difficulties of her daily life: family, work, love, friendship. Once she discovers that she can trust others and ask for help, Alice manages to come out of her shell and mature. In this way, she gains self-awareness, understands her desires beyond appearances, and, above all, psychologically emancipates herself from the figures she venerates, discovering that they are lonely, frustrated, and as afraid of life as she is.

Following the death of her mother and father, a printer, young Alice is forced to face serious financial problems. With the help of an artist friend and an old family friend, she embarks on a journey through time to process her grief, which takes shape in the creation of a performance/installation inside the family printing shop.

A documentary about the artist Desiderio, directed by Andrea Rotini. With the partecipation of Alessandro Riva, Chiara Canali, Francesco Santaniello. Texts and translations by Gemma Jalenti