Left Behind
In the unforgiving wilderness of the Swiss Alps, blanketed in snow and mystery, wanders Hamilcar Mahab, a lost soldier of Hannibal's mighty army. Suffering from a head injury, Hamilcar is a man untethered from time and memory, his mind a maze of confusion and hallucinations. The beauty of the snow-clad mountains belies their harshness, a harshness that takes its toll on Hamilcar's body and spirit.
Once a proud warrior on a grand mission to help crush the Roman Empire, Hamilcar now battles an unseen enemy – his own fractured mind. Plagued by amnesia, he clings to a singular, driving purpose: to reunite with his comrades and continue their historic quest. Yet, unbeknownst to him, he is trapped in a vicious cycle, wandering endlessly in circles through the treacherous terrain.
As days blend into nights, Hamilcar's struggles intensify. His hallucinations become more vivid, blurring the line between reality and illusion. The mountains, with their serene beauty and deadly cold, become both his refuge and his prison. The soldier's journey is a poignant reflection of the futility of war and the human cost of grand ambitions.
In this desolate landscape, Hamilcar's battle is not just against the elements but against the inevitable truth of his own mortality. With each passing day, death draws nearer, an invisible force steadily closing in. "Circles in the Snow" is a tale of survival, a haunting exploration of a mind and body pushed to their limits, and the tragic irony of a warrior lost in the very nature he sought to conquer.
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Davide RomeoDirector
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Davide RomeoWriter
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Davide RomeoKey Cast
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Jeremy LiaComposer
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Davide RomeoEditor
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Mirko SalciariniCinematography
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Project Type:Experimental, Short
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Runtime:11 minutes
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Completion Date:December 10, 2017
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Production Budget:500 CHF
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Country of Filming:Switzerland
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Aspect Ratio:2.39.1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Davide Romeo, a passionate artist from Ticino, excels in film, theater, and painting. He graduated from the Dimitri Theatre Academy in 2011, earning the title of "Migros Talent." Davide has further honed his skills through masterclasses with Bernard Hiller, a renowned acting coach from Los Angeles. His diverse career ranges from acting, clowning, acrobatics, and dance, spanning circus, musicals, and theater. Notable roles include Pinocchio and collaborations with Luzerner Theater and Martino Müller. He toured with Circo Knopf and joined Circo Monti in 2017. In 2022, Davide showcased his talents in the Swiss musical "Space Dream." His passion for cinema developed in his youth, leading to the founding of "Quarantine Production" with Simone Ganser in 2020. Together, they produced the successful TV series "Swiss Secrets," which debuted at the Solothurn Film Festival.
"Left Behind" is a 10-minute experimental short film, conceived and executed within the span of a single week and filmed over the course of a day. Initially, the project was intended as just a scene to enhance my demo-reel. However, it evolved into a standalone short film, albeit one without a conventional plot. Instead, it presents snapshots of a soldier's life, lost in history. This narrative is rooted in the epic tale of Hannibal's march across the Alps in 218 BC during the Second Punic War. The focus is on Hamilicar Mahab, a soldier in Hannibal's army, who, due to a severe head injury, falls behind and is left to fend for himself in the mountains, a fate that befell many during this arduous journey.
The filming process was an adventure in itself. We started our day at 4 am and journeyed for an hour to reach our location, followed by a two-hour hike through the chilly, challenging terrain. The frozen, slippery snow and dense fog added an element of risk, making every step crucial. This awareness of the dangers, coupled with the breathtaking beauty of the snowy, untouched mountains, was both intimidating and awe-inspiring. It was this contrast that I aimed to encapsulate and convey through the film.
Preparation was key to this project. Days before the shoot, I had meticulously scouted and planned each shot. However, a sudden change in weather conditions — the snow melting just a day before shooting — forced a last-minute change in location. This unforeseen challenge meant we had to adapt on the fly, climbing the mountain without prior knowledge of the terrain or how it would visually translate on screen.
This filming experience left a lasting impact on me. Even a week later, I found myself reflecting on the mesmerizing journey. It was more than just a film shoot; it was an invigorating experience that fueled my passion for filmmaking and sparked a desire to delve deeper into such projects in the future.