Svegliami a Mezzanotte (Wake Me Up At Midnight), 2022
Directed by Francesco Patierno
Written by Fuani Mariano, Francesco Patierno
SYNOPSIS:
A young woman who has recently become a mother decides to take her own life. Based on her own autobiographical writings, the film explores her own search for understanding.
A haunting and poetic non-fiction piece based on the life and writings of Fuani Marino, Wake Me Up at Midnight looks at the precariousness of mental health, life, and existence itself. Asking uncomfortable questions of how much in control of our lives any of us really are, the film is accompanied by a beautifully edited series of images and film collated from the Instituto Luce film archive.
The documentary is also voiced by Marino’s recollections and ongoing evaluations of what made her feel so out of step with her own life. The intimacy of these details from Marino’s own book on the subject is brought out strongly. The result is that the audience is offered an insight into the author’s headspace, with an extra illustrative effect garnered by the carefully chosen film items.
Showing as part of the first season of Cinecittà Italian Docs at London’s Bertha DocHouse, this elegant film presents a human trying to come to terms with their health struggles. Powerful in its intensity, the film also showcases the strength of healing made possible through learning. As Marino questions more about why and how, there is a sense that she has made herself a survivor through writing, art and discussion.
A visual diary of sorts, the film works as a personal account of an intensely painful time. It is always done with a sympathetic eye and ear, and makes it clear that events of mental fragility can befall anyone. How we react to such times is important, and Mario’s writing highlight the essential need for communication.
For it is only by presenting our thoughts and describing them in terms that we can approach respectfully and sensitively can we begin to understand the intricacies of emotive and psychic states.
That is exactly what Marino and Patierno have done in this breathtakingly sincere documentary. It shows us the multi-faceted complexities of living, surviving and understanding the world we’re born into. As a result, we’re left emboldened by the idea of talking, creating and understanding.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Svegliami a Mezzanotte (Wake Me Up At Midnight) will be showing at London’s Bertha DocHouse as part of the Cinecittà Italian Docs season on Saturday 24th June, 18.30
Robert W. Monk
Originally published June 21, 2023. Updated June 22, 2023.
