note to self
by Maria Gorgoglione
short film | drama
What if your house was haunted by yourself?
Synopsis
Teo is trying to compose a melody but has been stuck on the same note for too long. Letizia and a blurred Presence will impose themselves in his isolation, forcing him to trace the roots of his ennui.
note to self
by Maria Gorgoglione
short film | drama
What if your house was haunted by yourself?
Synopsis
Teo is trying to compose a melody but has been stuck on the same note for too long. Letizia and a blurred Presence will impose themselves in his isolation, forcing him to trace the roots of his ennui.
Note to Self
Italy, 2024 / 30′
a film by
Maria Gorgoglione
with
Federico Cesari
Giulia Sanna
Alessandro Marzullo
| Written and Directed by | Maria Gorgoglione |
| Director of Photography | Elena Sbrogiò |
| Camera Operator | Margherita Marzari |
| Set and Costume Design | Emiliano Sisolfi Demetra Lanciani Maria Gorgoglione |
| Make-Up | Giorgia Melillo |
| Still Photographer | Giulia Hrvatin |
| Editing | Matteo Hrvatin |
| Composer | Rest Aria |
| Sound | Michele Saldarella Leonardo Nerini |
| Producer | Maria Gorgoglione Valerio Chicca |
| Distribution | Alpha Film |
Official Selections
- Festival del Cinema Europeo
Italy, 2024 - VisualFest
Italy, 2024
The Director
Maria Gorgoglione
Biofilmography
After completing a three-year degree at La Sapienza, where she mainly focused on film history and analysis and became very passionate about modern and contemporary art, she carried out a Master’s degree at RUFA – Rome University of Fine Arts shooting three short films and realizing her deep passion for film direction. She’s also had different experiences as a Production and Costumes Designer, the most recent and significant one for the feature “Non credo in niente” by Alessandro Marzullo, selected at Mostra Internazionale del Nuovo Cinema di Pesaro.
Director statement
The idea for Note to Self has its roots in an image that was stuck in my mind for a long time: a young boy wakes up in his room and a mysterious presence observes him, sharing his spaces without being noticed. This situation became a short story which, without ever coming to a conclusion, began to stir and require a visual part.
The story is based on a deep sense of incompleteness; Teo, the main character, is a fragmented person who is unable to establish a contact with the things he loves. The Presence craves unobtainable sensations relating to the physical world and everyday life, which Teo takes for granted. Letizia is the point of connection with the outside world, which we often push away but inevitably have to deal with.
I tried to approach the making of this film in the most unconstrained way possible, intentionally stretching the duration of simple daily actions to convey as much as possible the perception of a time that is still and twisted on itself. Time is in fact a fundamental pillar of this story; the idea that, regardless of our mood, time flows in the same way each day, and seems cruelly longer when we find ourselves in a state of discomfort, is something I simply couldn’t ignore while creating this story.
Note to Self is therefore a short film that mainly consists of atmospheres and sensations rather than a linear storytelling. It is a crucial moment in the life of a young adult, and above all the realization of the importance of connecting with our inner world and with other people.
The story is based on a deep sense of incompleteness; Teo, the main character, is a fragmented person who is unable to establish a contact with the things he loves. The Presence craves unobtainable sensations relating to the physical world and everyday life, which Teo takes for granted. Letizia is the point of connection with the outside world, which we often push away but inevitably have to deal with.
I tried to approach the making of this film in the most unconstrained way possible, intentionally stretching the duration of simple daily actions to convey as much as possible the perception of a time that is still and twisted on itself. Time is in fact a fundamental pillar of this story; the idea that, regardless of our mood, time flows in the same way each day, and seems cruelly longer when we find ourselves in a state of discomfort, is something I simply couldn’t ignore while creating this story.
Note to Self is therefore a short film that mainly consists of atmospheres and sensations rather than a linear storytelling. It is a crucial moment in the life of a young adult, and above all the realization of the importance of connecting with our inner world and with other people.
Gallery
