The power that enslaves and enslaves, an absolution bought at a high price during a symbolic, and bloody, Last Supper. Intentionally dark and claustrophobic, Olbia-born director Mirko Decandia's latest work, the short film "Absolutio," produced by and distributed by Alpha Film, has toured (and won) international festivals. From the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival to the Goa Short Film Festival to the Monza Film Fest, it was recently presented at the Suentu Lab in an evening filled with artistic performances, including music, painting, writing, and theater.
A small gem of a visionary language, which expresses Decandia's maturity in crafting a powerful, no-frills script, "Absolutio" also surprises with its cast . The short features Lara Bianco, Jimi Deiana (also production designer and producer), Daniel Rizzo, Veronica Nikole, Juri Biscione, Gianmatteo Mariano, Omar Manzoni, and Francesca Midulla. The costumes are by Janthimà Verri, makeup by Anna Pirino, and music and sound are by Pietro Deledda and Riccardo Lampreu. Decandia also handles photography and editing, with assistant director Daniele Piredda and camera operator Dimitri Tedde. The film proceeds at a pressing and tense pace, underscored by a compelling soundtrack that, like the film's attention to detail, serves as a fitting substitute for dialogue.
"The idea was to tell the story of the decadence of the human soul, but I wasn't interested in making something didactic," says the director. "Starting with a script about racism, the encounter with the actress who plays the slave changed the course of the work . The action takes place in a gourmet restaurant; the metaphor is served on a richly decorated table.
"Food understood as gluttony, a cardinal sin, consumed in a Michelin-starred restaurant represents the elite," Decandia continues. "But an elite so chained and contemptuous as to think it can buy everything, even indulgence. The use of German names for the actors is clearly a reference to Nazism." A dark noir drama with a very open ending. The film insists on scenes that deliberately focus on the preparation and consumption of meals, he observes, "and while some shots are designed to be as crude as possible, I sought a balance so as not to give way to splatter."
Now in his third short film, the multifaceted Olbia-born filmmaker, a former rapper and musician, began his career in 2010, focusing on making music videos and founding Green Grass Film, specializing in short films, documentaries, and music videos. He has collaborated with several major international productions, such as Paramount's Catch-22 and Disney's The Little Mermaid; he has worked as a cameraman and editor for music events for prominent artists, including Salmo, the Red Valley Festival, and the Jova Beach Party. He is now focusing on new productions: the story of a graffiti artist—including a small cameo by his friend Salmo—and a tale about war and its tragic aftermath.
Olbia confirms its position as a city with a fertile indie underground, striving to emerge despite the lack of space and opportunities. "The artistic hubs that do exist pay high costs to organize the evenings," Decandia comments. "In some situations, it's decidedly difficult to find support."
SuentuLab, a multipurpose center run by the cultural associations Mediterrarte and Archè, is one of the organizations that has been offering courses (including music, illustration, and theater) for several years and hosting events dedicated to the presentation of new productions. The evening will feature a theatrical performance by Valerio Asara and the presentation of the second issue of the fanzine Naufragi (48 pages of illustrated texts, graphics, and inspiring insights) created with Sebastiano Filippi.
"The project was born from our frequent meetings. Valerio writes, I paint and draw," Filippi explains. "We decided to give voice to these ideas. Thus, this illustrated magazine with stories, drawings, and comics was born."
From a collective work that attracted mainly artists from Olbia, the fanzine now features the collaboration of authors from a variety of backgrounds.
