Dark Illness

The story unfolds across urban Rome in the heat of summer, rural Calabria with olive groves, and the Alpine village of Siusi as the protagonist contemplates retreat. The Strait of Messina frames the distance between the mainland and Sicily, symbolizing a divide from the father’s memory. These locations reflect a journey from crowded cities to isolating, sun-drenched landscapes that mirror the protagonist’s inner isolation.

🧠 Mental Health

A pervasive sense of existential unease drives Giuseppe to seek diagnosis and psychoanalytic insight. The film centers on how fear, guilt, and past conditioning shape present behavior, including despair, suicide attempts, and the search for meaning. Therapy reveals a paternal imprint that binds him, but true healing remains elusive.

💔 Betrayal

Marital strain unfolds as Giuseppe’s wife/younger partner’s infidelity upends trust. The narrative uses betrayal to expose how dependency and deception erode intimacy. The affair accelerates the hero’s sense of abandonment and existential crisis.

🎬 Art vs. Career

Giuseppe’s dream of a life-writing project clashes with commercial pressures and failed scripts. The pursuit of the 'novel of his life' collides with economic realities, highlighting the fragility of artistic ambitions. The struggle exposes how creative identity can be overshadowed by practical demands.