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PENTIMENTO TRAILER

Once upon a time in New York, two misfits meet in a homeless shelter and from the very instant their lives intertwine they’re bewitched by one another.

  • Loredana Gasparotto
    Director
  • Loredana Gasparotto
    Writer
  • Loredana Gasparotto, Charles Ricciardi, Dennis Valle
    Producer
  • Laura Pellegrini, Trevor Swann
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Other
  • Runtime:
    1 minute 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 19, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Loredana Gasparotto

Director and artist Loredana Gasporotto brings to life a raw and timeless story of the pursuit of love and happiness in an unforgiving and brutal world, in her new film, “Pentimento.”
This uniquely crafted tale centers around Sofia, a beautiful Romanian immigrant who leaves behind an checkered past as an erotic dancer in Romania to realize her American dream of becoming a singer in New York City. Burdened with high rents, low wages and the scant opportunities afforded anyone with illegal immigration status, Sofia’s hopes for success dim with each passing day. Then she meets a handsome young artist named Conner. Conner himself is a misfit, willfully turning away from his wealthy family to pursue his own dream of becoming a serious artist. Passions ignite quickly when the two collide; sharing their hardships, as well as their commitment to live their dreams. Meanwhile, Connor's politically-charged parents feel so threatened by this “outsider” and the harm she could unwittingly wreck upon their son and family, they attempt to dispose of her. As the walls close in, Conner and Sofia’s strength will be tested, as will their commitment to their creatively and love.
“Pentimento” is a dark, Romeo and Juliet-style tale that strikes a balance between coincidence, surprise and melodrama. At times colorful and at other times transcendentally silly, the film confronts head-on the fears that compel the 11 million illegal US immigrants and the 323 million American Citizens in our violent and volatile world.

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Director Statement

Pentimento, my first feature length work, is a fictionalized account of my experience as an immigrant in New York at a critical juncture in my life. Pentimento explores the discoveries, problems, and issues of identity and self-image that an individual faces as they transition from one stage in life to the next. As a story of immigration, the film uncovers how this shift in reality forces individuals to examine, redefine and reinvent themselves. It reveals the process one goes through as they encounter the diverse strata of New York society, from the very wealthy to the destitute, from those who are warm and giving, to those who are criminal. Pentimento exposes how New York isn’t just an idyllic cosmopolitan city seen in Tv shows and commercial movies. It’s a very tough city and it is hard to survive in it. Yet, in the end it does offer one the freedom to pursue their dreams.
Pentimento emphasizes the idea that it is exactly that freedom that attracts generation after generation from all over the world to leave everything they have for the unknown opportunities that New York City has to offer. As with the classic timeless tales of immigration, these stories can reach a large number of people with that shared experience. The script for Pentimento is inspired by Leos Carax’s The Lovers on The Bridge as well as Wong Kar-Wai’s and Park Chan-Wook’s visual and narrative styles.

Through its characters Pentimento explores the lengths that they are willing to go to in order to survive and preserve their desires. As Sofia, the main character in Pentimento, struggles to pursue her dreams and create a new life in New York, so to does Connor, the American artist, struggle to deflect the expectations of his family and find his path as an artist. Additionally, the environment of New York City also plays an important role in Pentimento. It embodies the diversity, conflict, and endurance of the main characters involved in the film. Therefore, the city also plays a decisive role as a character and as a setting. There could be no better location for Pentimento. In sum, these elements introduce the themes of integrity, sacrifice and the search for love and happiness. Sophia and Connor are archetypal portrayals of two modern heroes and lovers who are unafraid to take the chance to find themselves in an often-challenging backdrop of NYC. They are characters who are an inspiration others–they transcend their circumstances, and by doing so, inspire others to have hope and not give up their dreams.