Dòma
Chiara Seveso
Italy | 2023 | 4’
How does a small community deal with a loss? Is the person who loses someone close the only one to suffer? What role does society play in the ritual? The idea behind this short film is to represent how death is processed in a small sardinian village. The film opens up with Aurora, a sardinian woman dressed in mourning, in a long black dress, as well as a black veil covering her head, intent on sewing. Suddenly, she absently pricks her finger with a needle. This makes her recall how she was taught to sew when she was little: an old woman, referred to as “Tzia” by Aurora, is teaching the little girl how to baste a piece of fabric. The lesson is interrupted by the sound of death bells. We are now outside: Aurora and Tzia are making their way towards the house of the person who has recently died, where the funeral wake is taking place. The whole village is covered in snow, everything seems to be suspended in time. The figures of Tzia and Aurora stand out from the white landscape, the first one dressed in black and the latter in vivid red tones. During their walk, various women stare at the two figures, quietly judging them as they pass. In fact, Tzia, being the village’s seamstress, is also tasked with weaving clothes for the dead, a job that will be taught and handed down to Aurora, despite its controversial nature. Tzia and Aurora finally arrive at the wake. Numerous women are gathered around the casket to pity the dead. The two protagonists take part in the wake.
Director: Chiara Seveso
School: NABA
Chiara Seveso is an illustrator and 2d animator from Milan, Italy. She studied 2d animation at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA) where she graduated in February 2022. She loves telling stories, whether they are sad or happy. The goal of her works is to create a connection with people and convey something in which they can recognize themselves
“Dòma, my first short film, is a female short film, which wants to tell an episode in which anyone can recognize themselves, namely loss and mourning. It was born from the desire to show others a part of the stories of my grandmother, born and raised in Sorgono, Sardinia. She was a great inspiration and support. Her contribution was essential for the realization of the project.“
