Whispering Memories

This short movie is an emotional journey through three intertwined stories, all linked by a single common thread: Villa Borghese, the most famous park in Rome. Each story explores the power of memories and emotions that this evocative place can awaken, transforming the park into a refuge of hope, introspection and rebirth.

The first story tells of a couple who, in the midst of a period of crisis, rediscover the love and connection that united them at the beginning of their relationship, in the very places that had marked their first steps together. A love that seemed lost resurfaces thanks to the happy memories of a shared past, revealing how feelings can be rediscovered even in difficult moments. The second story follows the journey of a brother and sister, whose relationship has been marked by a separation over the years. Through the walk in the park, the weight of separation slowly dissolves, bringing back the love and complicity they had as children, giving them the opportunity to find each other and rebuild their bond. Finally, the third story explores the timeless love between a granddaughter and her grandfather, who, despite life's difficulties, manage to rekindle their bond right there, in that park that saw their connection grow. The emotions of a shared childhood come back to the fore, reawakening in both hope and the awareness that, even in the most difficult moments, love can always find a way.

With a delicate and moving narration, the short film explores universal themes of love, memory and rebirth, demonstrating how fundamental human bonds and the power of the places we are tied to are. Villa Borghese, with its timeless beauty, becomes the beating heart of these stories, a place that started these journeys and that, through its green and silent spaces, has brought back memories, emotions and deep feelings. In a world that often pushes us to move away from our roots, the park becomes the starting point for a new chapter in their lives, where they can rediscover the importance of finding each other, of embracing what we have been and of renewing what we can be.

  • GIUSEPPE RUSSO
    Director
  • GIUSEPPE RUSSO
    Writer
  • GIUSEPPE RUSSO
    Key Cast
    ACTOR
  • ELVEZIA FRATANGELI
    Key Cast
    ACTRESS
  • UGO RENDA
    Key Cast
    ACTOR
  • EMANUELA FANTOZZI
    Key Cast
    ACTRESS
  • MARIANO MESTICI
    Key Cast
    ACTOR
  • TIZIANA POMPILI
    Key Cast
    ACTRESS
  • GIACOMO DE ANGELIS
    VIDEOMAKER
  • GIUSEPPE RUSSO
    EDITING
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Memorie Sottovoce
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 5 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 14, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Italy
  • Country of Filming:
    Italy
  • Language:
    Italian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - GIUSEPPE RUSSO

ENGLISH

Giuseppe Russo was born in Rome, a city that has always fascinated him with its history, art, and cinema. Growing up among its monuments, he had the opportunity to live in an environment rich in beauty and culture. From a young age, he developed a strong passion for art in all its forms.
In addition to visual art, Giuseppe Russo has always had a great interest in cinema. He found inspiration in the great directors of the past, such as Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Vittorio De Sica, as well as legendary actors like Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn, and Marcello Mastroianni. He was also deeply influenced by the directors of the '80s and '90s, like Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Ridley Scott, with films like Taxi Driver, E.T., and Blade Runner.
At the start of his journey, he studied acting and diction, driven by the desire to become an actor. Over time, however, his interest in cinema expanded to include film production, seeking to understand how a film is made and how a story is built.
As time went on, he also discovered a passion for writing. He enjoys writing stories and screenplays, convinced that a good film always starts with a strong script. He believes that the screenplay is essential to a film's success, as it is from the writing that every story comes to life.

ITALIANO

Giuseppe Russo è nato a Roma, una città che lo ha sempre affascinato per la sua storia, l'arte e il cinema. Crescendo tra i suoi monumenti, ha avuto l'opportunità di vivere in un ambiente ricco di bellezza e cultura. Fin da giovane, ha sviluppato una forte passione per l'arte in tutte le sue forme.
Oltre all'arte visiva, Giuseppe Russo ha sempre avuto un grande interesse per il cinema. Si è ispirato ai grandi registi del passato, come Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni e Vittorio De Sica, e ad attori leggendari come Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn e Marcello Mastroianni. Anche i registi degli anni '80 e '90, come Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg e Ridley Scott, lo hanno influenzato molto con film come Taxi Driver, E.T. e Blade Runner.
All'inizio del suo percorso, ha studiato recitazione e dizione, spinto dalla voglia di diventare attore. Con il tempo, però, il suo interesse per il cinema si è esteso anche alla produzione cinematografica, cercando di capire come nasce un film e come si costruisce una storia.
Nel tempo, ha scoperto anche la sua passione per la scrittura. Gli piace scrivere storie e sceneggiature, convinto che un buon film inizi sempre da una buona scrittura. Crede che la sceneggiatura sia essenziale per il successo di un film, perché da lì prende vita ogni storia.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

ENGLISH

Giuseppe Russo, the director of Whispered Memories, has always believed that art, and particularly cinema, has the power to awaken deep emotions and offer life examples. With his short film, the director explores how places can act as catalysts for memories and feelings, providing a sense of rediscovery and reconnection. The film unfolds through three parallel stories, all set in Villa Borghese, a place that has always held a special connection for the director. This park, which has long evoked a deep fascination and love in him, was chosen as the heart of the film. His bond with Villa Borghese is so strong that he wanted to pay homage to it by writing this screenplay, merging his passion for the place with his cinematic vision.
The villa is not just a backdrop but a symbol of rebirth and the resurgence of connections. Each story tells of a character’s return to this space, where memories, feelings, and connections resurface, creating a moment of reconnection between the protagonists, even after many years. Villa Borghese becomes the meeting point for stories of rediscovery, a place where bonds are renewed, and time seems suspended, ready to bring the past to light and awaken hidden emotions.
Whispered Memories is a film that reflects on the strength of feelings that never truly disappear, even when time and distance seem to have buried them. The short film invites viewers to recognize the power of places and memories in revealing what has always been present but remained hidden beneath the surface.
Moreover, the film encourages reflection on the importance of reconnecting, reconciling, and rediscovering the feelings we have for our loved ones, especially in a time when everyone seems distant, overwhelmed by the frantic pace of daily life and technology. It is an invitation to rediscover the fundamental values of life, to not take anything for granted, and to remember the importance of the people we love.

ITALIANO

Giuseppe Russo, regista di Memorie Sottovoce, ha sempre creduto che l’arte, e in particolare il cinema, abbia il potere di risvegliare emozioni profonde e di suggerire esempi di vita. Con il suo cortometraggio, il regista esplora come i luoghi possano agire da catalizzatori di ricordi e sentimenti, restituendo un senso di riscoperta e riconnessione. Il film si sviluppa attraverso tre storie parallele, tutte ambientate a Villa Borghese, un luogo che per il regista ha sempre avuto un legame speciale. Questo parco, che ha sempre suscitato in lui un profondo fascino e amore, è stato scelto come il cuore pulsante del film. Il suo legame con Villa Borghese è così forte che ha voluto omaggiarlo scrivendo questa sceneggiatura, unendo la sua passione per il luogo con la sua visione cinematografica.
La villa non è solo uno sfondo, ma un simbolo di rinascita e di legami che riaffiorano. Ogni storia racconta il ritorno di un personaggio in questo spazio, dove ricordi, sentimenti e connessioni riaffiorano, creando un momento di riavvicinamento tra i protagonisti, anche dopo anni di distanza. Villa Borghese diventa il punto di incontro di storie di riscoperta, un luogo dove i legami vengono rinnovati, e dove il tempo sembra sospeso, pronto a far emergere il passato e a risvegliare le emozioni nascoste.
Memorie Sottovoce è un film che riflette sulla forza dei sentimenti che non scompaiono mai, anche quando il tempo e la distanza sembrano averli sepolti. Il cortometraggio invita a riconoscere il potere dei luoghi e dei ricordi nel rivelare ciò che è sempre stato presente, ma che era rimasto nascosto sotto la superficie.
Inoltre, il film spinge lo spettatore a riflettere sull'importanza di avvicinarsi, riconciliarsi e riscoprire il sentimento verso i propri cari, specialmente in un periodo in cui tutti sembrano essere distanti, travolti dai ritmi frenetici della vita quotidiana e dalla tecnologia. È un invito a riscoprire i valori fondamentali della vita, a non dare nulla per scontato e a riscoprire l'importanza delle persone che amiamo.