The name “chlorophyll” was coined by combining two Greek words: chloros (green) and fillon (leaf). The title of Ivana Gloria’s film refers to the pigment that gives plants their green color, identical to the color of the main character’s hair. Together with her, we embark on a journey to Italian orange groves to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and find the tranquility possible only through contact with nature.
From the very first contact with Maia (an intriguing and mysterious creation played by Sarah Short) we sense the otherness emanating from her. The characteristic green coloration of her hair, secretiveness combined with curiosity about the world, as well as the search for strong sensations in unusual places – all this makes the viewer curious about her story, however, he realizes that it is full of secrets. Their importance gains weight when the girl meets Teo (played perfectly by Michele Ragno), an introverted grove owner whose closest conversation companions are the oranges grown there. Both Teo and Maia are treated as misfits by their surroundings, however, each of them is unique in their peculiarity – despite their different problems and needs, they reach a thread of understanding, primarily through their common concern for nature.
One could say that it is nature that plays the first fiddle in this film. Seemingly, trees, bushes and flowers appear somewhere in the background of the unfolding events, but their presence is constantly felt and accentuated: the shadow of branches spreads over the passing Maia, the forest beckons her at night with natural and supernatural sounds, while houseplants tended by Teo densely surround the walls, as if they wanted to expand beyond the boundaries of the room and even beyond the frame of the film frame. Flora is largely responsible for the fairy-tale atmosphere of the production, which deftly balances between a world dominated by humans (intense colors, electronic music, turbulent relationships) and the plant kingdom (sensory experiences, metaphysical communication, events bordering on magic). The boundary between the two is so thin that it’s easy for us to become immersed in a story where we can’t take anything for granted, with the one exception Teo mentions: that “plants will never abandon you.”
Chlorophyll, through observation of nature, leans into the complexities of our human nature. Undoubtedly, it is a story about maturing, discovering one’s own identity and finding one’s place – development is depicted here as blossoming, and unity with nature is a metaphor for inner acceptance. Ivana Gloria’s film shows us that all it takes is the right soil, favorable conditions and a large amount of patience and care so that, as in the world of plants, we bear fruit that is the best testimony to our authenticity.
The film Chlorophyll (directed by Ivana Gloria) is screened at the 18th Mastercard OFF CAMERA in the Main Competition “Making Way”.
Aleksandra Kubas