The Disappearance of My Mother

Showings

TIFF Lightbox 4 Sun, Apr 28, 2019 6:00 PM
TIFF Lightbox 2 Mon, Apr 29, 2019 10:15 AM
Scotiabank Theatre 3 Sun, May 5, 2019 1:00 PM
Film Info
Runtime:95
Copyright:2019
Country Listing:Italy
Premiere Status:Canadian Premiere
Rating:PG
Festival Info
Festival Year:2019
Language:Italian
English
Accessibility:Partial Subtitles
Program Category:Made In Italy
Film Subjects:Aging & the Elderly
Italy
Personal Histories
Popular Culture
Women Trailblazers & Rule Breakers
Website:http://www.thedisappearanceofmymother.com
Cast/Crew Info
Director(s):Beniamino Barrese
Producer(s):Filippo Macelloni
Executive Producer(s):Lorenzo Garzella
Matt Ippolito
Bryn Mooser
Giovanni Storti
Hayley Pappas
Editor(s):Valentina Cicogna
Writer(s):Beniamino Barrese
Cinematography:Beniamino Barrese
Composer:Aaron Cupples
Sound:Massimo Mariani

Description

1960s Italian supermodel Benedetta Barzini was a cover girl for every major magazine and was a muse to Warhol, Dalí and Avedon. But her time in the spotlight clashed with her political awakenings, leading her to become an outspoken academic and women's rights activist. Teaching new generations to identify and fight the objectifying gaze of the patriarchy, she increasingly retreated from view. Now in her 70s, she announces to her filmmaker son Beniamino that she wants to disappear. He is troubled by her ominous but vague plans and her insistence that she needs to escape. To keep her close, Beniamino films her as she sorts her belongings and closes up the family home. By forcing her in front of the camera, her nemesis, his attempt to understand her devolves into an uncomfortable battle between mother and son, viewer and object, in this original study of liberation. Myrocia Watamaniuk

Made In Italy program presented in partnership with the Italian Trade Commission and Istituto Luce-Cinecittà.

Additional Information

  • POV - "A warm look at a fascinating character."
  • NOW - 4 Stars