S'i' fosse foco

I worked as director, editor, and colorist on a short film—a modern adaptation of James Joyce’s Two Gallants, set in contemporary Milan. The film explores themes of irony, disillusionment, and manipulation, reimagined through two characters navigating a morally gray cityscape.

Shot over four consecutive nights, the main challenge was capturing the story’s emotional subtlety under tight time and lighting constraints. Updating Joyce’s early 20th-century tone to feel authentic in a modern setting required precise direction and carefully rewritten dialogue.

In pre-production, I focused on finding locations that offered natural visual contrast and atmosphere. On set, I guided the actors toward understated performances that preserved the story’s tension. During editing, I built a rhythm that allowed scenes to breathe while maintaining narrative momentum. The color grading used cool, desaturated tones to evoke emotional detachment and mirror Milan’s nocturnal energy.

Despite a lean crew and limited resources, the film achieved a visually coherent, emotionally sharp result that honors the spirit of Joyce’s original while giving it a fresh, urban identity.