When deciding on joining in with the Soho Horror Film Festival, the description of this title being streamed/screened at the event sounded so interesting that I signed up, leading me getting ready to meet Leni.
View on the film:
Placing the audience into Leni's tormented mind-set, Ailin Zaninovich gives a magnificent, harrowing performance as Leni, with Zaninovich capturing Leni being on edge over the threat of being attacked by her former abusive partner, as Zaninovich has Leni shuffle over to the local shop,with her head lowered,and nervous body language capturing how terrified Leni is.
Crossing the thin line between her nightmares and reality, debut writer/director Federico Gianotti closely works with sound designer Yago Andrade on a textured, chilling layout, where the subtle altering of sounds rings out the PTSD Leni suffers from after the abuse,and a monstrous rumble in the background, signal the demons always lurking behind her.
Holding the camera up close to Leni, Gianotti & cinematographer Max Ruggieri unleash a raw Thriller/ Horror atmosphere of long panning shots going into the darkest corners of Leni's mind and small bedsit-where fracturing jump-cuts bring to light the horrors seeping out of her nightmares,into Leni's life.
Ending with the symbolic image of her next to a open grave, (can Leni leave her demons buried?) the screenplay by Gianotti delicately unlocks a detailed character study which peels right back the initial abuse,the aftermath of which she still suffers from, and turns each attempt made to do a mundane actively, into a living nightmare for Leni.
View on the film:
Placing the audience into Leni's tormented mind-set, Ailin Zaninovich gives a magnificent, harrowing performance as Leni, with Zaninovich capturing Leni being on edge over the threat of being attacked by her former abusive partner, as Zaninovich has Leni shuffle over to the local shop,with her head lowered,and nervous body language capturing how terrified Leni is.
Crossing the thin line between her nightmares and reality, debut writer/director Federico Gianotti closely works with sound designer Yago Andrade on a textured, chilling layout, where the subtle altering of sounds rings out the PTSD Leni suffers from after the abuse,and a monstrous rumble in the background, signal the demons always lurking behind her.
Holding the camera up close to Leni, Gianotti & cinematographer Max Ruggieri unleash a raw Thriller/ Horror atmosphere of long panning shots going into the darkest corners of Leni's mind and small bedsit-where fracturing jump-cuts bring to light the horrors seeping out of her nightmares,into Leni's life.
Ending with the symbolic image of her next to a open grave, (can Leni leave her demons buried?) the screenplay by Gianotti delicately unlocks a detailed character study which peels right back the initial abuse,the aftermath of which she still suffers from, and turns each attempt made to do a mundane actively, into a living nightmare for Leni.
