The Absent Presence

Synopsis

The docu-film The Absent Presence begins with a critical recognition on the transformations in recent Friulian society, identity and environment. Besides the main cities, those suburbs that were the strongholds of ancient civil and essential values have been now experiencing a rapid process of loss of identity. Gradually the social fabric made by strong and plausible interpersonal relations has been dismantled. The Friulian writer Franco Marchetta was the one and only who put these topics at the center of his writings, both in Italian and Friulian language.
The movie recalls places and stories from the dystopic Friulian environment described in most of his novels. The witnesses who shared work and friendship with him are now living in an apocalyptic Friuli and will have to think about his narrative legacy and the role of memory in modern society. A mix of fiction and reality in order to rethink the biopic through new expressive forms.

Director’s notes

Working on a dystopian project is a very stimulating exercise to find the right narrative style and the correct directorial answer to tell the story. Two main technical and linguistic tools help the development of the documentary.

First, there is a concrete possibility of intervening during the shooting and the post-production in order to recreate a landscape, an environment and an object, as well as 3D elements that fit in the reality that has been filmed. Secondly, it is possible to use some kind of original audiovisual language that can guarantee a narrative capture and at the same time contain the production costs.

Marco D’Agostini, Dorino Minigutti

Credits

Year: 2019
Production: Agherose
Director: Marco D’Agostini, Dorino Minigutti
Screenplay: Umberto Alberini, Marco D’Agostini, Dorino Minigutti
Director of Photography: Claudio Cescutti

Developed with the contribution of the Audiovisual Fund of Friuli Venezia Giulia