Cannes Short Film Corner - Tu Me Manques / You Are Missing From Me
This is a film about three women; three beautiful women who never meet, yet are mysteriously linked by one profound experience.
Interview with Writer/Director Stefano Da Frè
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Making this film saved my life. I was diagnosed with a very rare disease in the summer of 2016. In October 2016, I underwent five weeks of chemotherapy. That experience changed me. I was spending three days a week visiting the hospital for blood tests & afterwards I would go to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City. Spending a lot of time alone. In that loneliness, I developed a fascination with modern art pieces, those which depicted beautiful feminine characters who had strained relationships in their youth. I became obsessed with the “long-term effects” of how these women would try to live in the present day.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you’re a human being - you’ll find pieces of yourself in the film. You’ll recognize yourself in the story and its universal themes of longing, desire & love. Luckily, I have a film with three female protagonists who each carry a unique & personal narrative. So you have the opportunity to engage with all three characters, each on a personal level.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The personal themes are clearly related to each specific female and how they deal with loss, suffering, & their own state of detachment from life. The beauty is how universal this experience is; when you remove the veil, there’s no sense of “you” or “me.” And so the personal and universal run along parallel lines until they beautifully merge.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Initially, the film evolved around only one girl. As time went on, I began to reflect more deeply on the women in my own life. I revisited two masterpieces: Vincent Gallo’s “Buffalo 66” and Jean Luc Godard’s “Les Mepris,” both of which shaped the overall concept. All these factors made me realize it would be more compelling to explore three mirrored female perspectives.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The film resonates with females from all different walks of life. They see themselves in each girl, sometimes even as one composite image of their own desires, insecurities, and personal struggles. It is difficult for some men to find an emotional connection only because of the way some of them try to process the film as a linear, structured narrative. The sensitive male can look beyond those constructs and see into the heart of the story.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Absolutely! It has challenged me to stretch my capacity for empathy and compassion even further. To commit to going deeper, even if it’s a dark place - that’s where all the richness lies.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
An opportunity to make “You Are Missing From Me / Tu Me Manques” visible on We Are Moving Stories will produce more awareness of the project and initiate important conversations about love & suffering. Sometimes, as a collective culture, we tend to shy away from these talks. But in the process, we deny ourselves the opportunity to connect even closer to each other. We miss out on all the things that make us messy and beautifully human.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We want to make the film accessible on a VOD platform and gain international distribution. All aspects will serve to amplify the film’s message.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
When you spend time viewing a piece of modern art, you learn to develop your own perspective and interpretation of that piece. All preconceived notions become irrelevant. Good art lights a fire. I hope to have the same impact with this film. Each person will walk away with his or her own personal take and find their own value in this piece.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Two questions:
1. As a society, why do we neglect the appreciation for suffering & grief?
2. What are we truly willing to risk in love, and in life?
Would you like to add anything else?
Imagination rules the world.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
A feature film about a blind painter. Then, a film about an older woman’s quest to begin her life again. Love, loss, renewal, repeat :)
Interview: June 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Tu Me Manques / You Are Missing From Me
This is a film about three women; three beautiful women who never meet, yet are mysteriously linked by one profound experience.
Length: 16 mins
Director: Stefano Da Frè
Producer: Rosso Films International
Writer: Stefano Da Frè
About the writer, director & producer:
Stefano Da Frè
Stefano Da Fre has been a Professional Actor/Director & Executive Producer for over ten years. He has worked with several notable artists including two time Academy Award winner Ang Lee in the film “Taking Woodstock.” In 2014 he was hired by CBS for the television series “Blue Bloods” starring Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg.
Stefano has also appeared in several television shows such as, MTV's One Bad Choice and co-starred in USA Networks "Pandora's Box" as Sgt. Casper.
He is the President of Rosso Films International, a dynamic film production company he shares with Laura Pellegrini (the Vice President).
Key cast: Samantha Scaffidi, Laura Pellegrini, Joanna Janetakis, Isaac Benelli, Tori Murray, & Vincent Ticali
Social media handles: Instagram
@tumemanques_film
Other: Offical website
Made in association with: Rosso Films International
Where can I see it in the next month?
We are actively seeking a distribution deal with a few international companies, so hopefully on bigger VOD platforms!