Alessio Conti: “Everything revolves around a deep hesitation: the choice to see or not to see reality.”
Romanticissimo
A short film by Alessio Conti
Alessio Conti was born on June 6th, 2000, in Latina and currently lives in Cori (LT), Italy. After studying acting for several years, Romanticissimo marks his debut as both screenwriter and director. Since childhood, he has nurtured a deep passion for the cinematic arts, which now takes form in this intimate and unsettling short film.
In Romanticissimo, we don’t know the names of the two main characters—he and she—perhaps because they hardly know each other themselves. We find them sitting on a sofa, blindfolded to avoid the light of truth. They are a neglected couple, exchanging (almost always) aseptic dialogues with seemingly weakened emotions. And yet, their words reveal doubts, fears, sexual desires, and other subtle intentions.
Even the viewer sees and does not see what happens—caught in a tension between truth and deception. The film revolves around a fundamental hesitation: the choice to see or not to see reality.
Where did the idea for this short film come from? Is there a personal experience or an artistic reference that inspired you?
I wrote a screenplay that included 7 episodes, each one looking at love and sex from a different perspective (asexuality, polyamory, BDSM, the incel world, and more). This was around 2021–2022. The idea remained in the drawer, and in 2024 I picked it up again. Not having the budget to make a feature film, I chose one of these 7 episodes to make this short film, also because each episode is self-contained and works perfectly on its own.
I wouldn’t know where the original idea came from. There’s no personal experience behind it—probably just the fear of ending up in a relationship like the one depicted. Luckily that hasn’t happened so far. When I wrote it, it was a time when I was reflecting on love and the various ways to live and see it.
Are there any filmmakers or films that influenced your style for this project?
I wouldn’t know what to say. There are so many directors (and films) that I love, and they all have completely different styles. I didn’t try to imitate anyone (and if I did, I did so unconsciously). I tried to create my own style, my own way of communicating this story both in terms of screenplay and visually.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in making this short?
Directing the actors was definitely the most difficult part, but also the most fun. We spent a lot of time achieving this aseptic acting style, with the toned-down emotions I was looking for.
Did you have to compromise your original vision? If so, in what way?
Maybe in the video quality, since we didn’t have a big budget. But I’m not sure that’s a bad thing in this case, because it probably helps convey that sense of “dirtiness” and neglect of the couple portrayed in the short.
Other than that, there weren’t any major sacrifices, because I chose a screenplay that could be realized based on my financial and time constraints, but which I think is interesting and powerful. I’m counting on the originality of both form and content.
Now that you’ve completed your first short film, what have you learned from the experience?
I’ve learned how important punctuality is on set and how important it is to get the actors into the idea that you already have in your head.
Do you already have new projects in mind? Will you continue with this thematic line, or would you like to explore different genres?
There are many ideas.
There are some storylines and scripts I’ve already written, both about love and other themes. In general, the most recurring themes in my ideas are: love, spirituality, and the concept of freedom. What I’ll end up making remains to be seen.
THE AUTHOR
Name: Alessio Conti
Film: “Romanticissimo”
Still from the film
Still from the film