Bolero by Ravel is an intensely passionate piece of classical music, and so is this well-crafted mystery thriller. As the music heightens expectations, so does the story Writer/Director Gabriele Fabbro has infused throughout this intriguing, sensual film. To make it even more interesting, it takes place and was shot in Italy during the first wave of COVID. We conducted our interview with Fabbro and his lead actresses during the Austin Film Festival with the ins and outs of making this film during the pandemic.
Roxanne (Lidia Vitale) is a feisty, middle-aged restorer of vintage organs, not the home ones, but the huge instruments now needing repair, built into massive old churches. Roxanne is a crusty, chain-smoking control freak, working to bring the huge, broken-down organ in a countryside church back to life. When 20-year-old Lucia, (Ludovica Mancini), who is mute, lands on the church doorstep looking for help and work, Paolo (Marcello Mariani) takes pity on her, hiring her to be Roxanne’s assistant.
Roxanne is not happy about anything, especially not wanting to have this young woman, who can hardly communicate, underfoot. Roxanne is frustrated having to show Lucia what she is to do and how to do it. Lucia is frustrated but completely fascinated by the size of this beast of a musical instrument and the task of restoring it’s glorious craftsmanship and sound.
Cinematographer Jessica La Malfa had her work cut out for her, shooting the organ and massive church from multiple angles, as well as the beauty of the surrounding grounds. The sound design and foley work is essential and particularly noteworthy. Fabbro singles out Francesco Piazza for going inside and outside the church to record footsteps, ambulance sirens, the pipes and more to enhance the atmosphere of this structure and the tense apprehension of life during COVID.
As they work together, Roxanne and Lucia struggle finding a way to communicate. When they make headway restoring the sound, Lucia plays to test it and a bond of friendship begins to form. Sparks fly for Roxanne during this isolated and lonely time during the pandemic. Fabbro lets Bolero’s melody grow more intense as Roxanne can no longer hold back her obsessive attraction to Lucia.
When Roxanne happens to see Lucia in the woods with a young man, she wants to know what Lucia is hiding. This becomes a leap in misdirection in the film, which changes the whole fabric of the story.
Next time you hear Ravel’s Bolero, it may conjure alternative emotions for you after seeing this film. Well-conceived, Gabriele Fabbro unveils potent performances from Vitale and Mancini in this intriguing, sensual, disturbing thriller. This is his first feature film, but it certainly won’t be his last.
Prime Video 1Hour 30 Minutes.
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