original title:
Monica
directed by:
screenplay:
cinematography:
Katelin Arizmendi
editing:
set design:
Andrew Clark
costume design:
Patrik Milani
producer:
production:
distribution:
world sales:
country:
USA/Italy
year:
2022
format:
colour
release date:
01/12/2022
festivals & awards:
Monica is an intimate portrait of a woman who returns home after a long absence to confront the wounds of her past. Reconnecting with her mother and the rest of her family for the first time since leaving as a teenager, Monica embarks on a path of healing and acceptance.
The film delves into Monica’s internal world and state of mind, her pain and fears, her needs and desires, to explore the universal themes of abandonment and forgiveness.
DIRECTOR'S NOTES:
During the past few years my mother’s illness has compelled me to confront my past and the psychological effects of abandonment. Treading between the interior and exterior, the emotional and physical, Monica explores the complexities of self-worth, the deep-rooted consequences of rejection and the lengths we go to heal our wounds.
Through a cinematic language that stems from the juxtaposition of the aesthetics of intimacy and alienation, my creative team and I delved into the emotional and psychological landscape of Monica to reflect the precarious nature of self-identity when challenged by the need to survive and ultimately transform.