Zita Sempri (2022) Poster

(2022)

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9/10
Superb Directorial debut
monkeybiznl-9758418 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I was sceptical when it was announced. A directorial debut,by an Italian actress trying to convey her memories into a short film. I was positively and pleasantly proven wrong and very emotional after watching a screening online.

The short is an ode to her mama giving life advice. Touches on her conservative upbringen wanting and giving her daughter all the chances and possibilities she couldn't. Whilst the daughter lives her dreamlife she conveys her thoughts and questions about life via letters. Her mama giving her advice about life.

The visuals are excellent although the camera movement takes some use to in the beginning. One is transported into the directors memories of daily life of a Sicilian family during the 80's .You can hear and smell the sounds of a close knit community on the one hand, whilst simultaneously experiencing the memories of the hussle and bussle busy life of a young woman living her dream in London .A contradiction that comes to head when the correspondence comes to an end.

The short leaves you emotional ,especially due to the voice overs of the director, as well as her sister You can feel the push and pull certain dilemmas have on the main character.

Big applause for an awesome directorial debut , hope to see more from the director as her vision is refreshing and my scepticism unfounded.
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10/10
Una dichiarazione d'amore alla propria mamma e alla sua amata Sicilia
vap1718 April 2023
The directional debut of Stefania Spampinato has left audiences stunned with her emotional and heartfelt story about her deep relationship with her loving mother. This short movie is an incredible tribute to the bond between mother and daughter, and the journey of grief that follows the loss of a parent.

The film is beautifully shot, with a stunning visual style that perfectly captures not only the mood and tone of the story but also the atmosphere of the little Sicilian town. Stefania brings her own personal experience and emotions to the story, creating an incredibly moving and heartfelt short movie that will leave viewers in tears.

As a director, Stefania has done a commendable job of conveying the deep and complex emotions that come with the loss of a parent.

Overall, this directional debut is a masterpiece that must not be missed. It's a poignant and honest representation of the love between mother and daughter, and the power of grief in shaping our lives. Stefania Spampinato has proven herself as a talented director, and we can't wait to see what she has in store for us in the future.

Bravissima!!!
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10/10
Love it
Sienna-firefox18 April 2023
The story, the film making, the acting, the directing is all done so beautifully it's hard hitting and full of so many emotions. I think that beautiful is the best way to describe all of the artistry and the story of this short. Stefania and everyone involved did a truly amazing job it's one of the best shorts I've ever seen! It is a relatable story that is told excellently it is well thought out and executed. The skill of all the actors is amazing you can feel every single emotion they are going through. Stefania is just so amazing at everything she does so it is really not surprising that this short is a masterpiece 💜
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10/10
a heartbreakingly beautiful tale told with raw honesty
leahl-191918 April 2023
This short film is nothing short of extraordinary. From beginning to end, I was invested in every little detail we were offered. The story is told with such raw honesty and it evokes so many emotions watching the tale of mother and daughter. The attention to every detail, the nuances in the story telling and the personal voiceovers demonstrate that this project was a labour of love. There is a vulnerability to the whole film that invites viewers in to fully hear the story that is being told, as well as watch it unfold. Messages from the letters are not only key to depicting the passion behind this short, but they stick with you even after it's over. There are so many lessons hidden in every crevice of this film and each time you find yourself learning something new. This project was described as a love letter and it only becomes more apparent when watching it why this is the case.

Had I not known before, I never would have guessed that this was a directional debut from Stefania Spampinato and I am very much looking forward to seeing what other masterpieces she creates behind the camera. Brava!
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10/10
Phenomenal work
baileyh-8844518 April 2023
This short was beautifully done. It's about a love that is so incredibly hard to put into words. The love between a mother and daughter is so special. The message to never be stagnant and always go after your dreams it home to me. To never let anyone in the way of what you want out of your life. To not let anyone be your anchor and hold you back. The vulnerability that this film took makes it that much more emotional. The camera work and the framing was phenomenally done. The film was overall amazing to watch. I love seeing Stefania Spampinato behind the camera. I can't wait to see what else she has in store! Please if you have the time give this film a watch! You won't regret it! Beautifully done.
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10/10
Feeling evoked
cfloresaguila18 April 2023
I think shorts film are good and achieve their goal when, in the limited time they use, they manage to evoke a feeling in the viewer.

Zita Sempri achieves that. The viewer can feel the emotion, heart and soul of the writer/creator of the short film.

Finally, all aspects of the short film complement each other.

The story is simple: an exchange of letters between mother and daughter.

But the images helps you see the vision of the main character.

The voice off help you feel the emotion of the letters.

The way the scenes are used allows you to have context.

And the use of the camera allows you to see the love the creator of the film has for her birth land.

It's clearly a very well imagined, written and created love letter.
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letters
Kirpianuscus20 May 2024
A masterpiece for who, at the end, you are profound grateful to director. But to define the use of term masterpiece is far to be easy.

It is a masterpiece because it is so personal, so delicate crafted, so poetic , touching and with intense love crafted than it becomes , for viewer, a personal story.

It is beautiful, in special manner, because it translates, in wise manner, truths behind definitions.

A young dancer , living in London, writing a letter to her mother from Sicily. Memories, images, hours together, try to define and understand the woman who gives to young lady everything. The sacrifices, strongest , wisdom of mother, gentle defined . And the lines of her, in a drawer.

In short, in profound way , a magnificent masterpiece.
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1/10
Beautiful scenario but horrible filming
BarbaraBlanc18 April 2023
What a beautiful story but the filming is horrible.

The testimony that Stefania gave us is a blessing, it is so powerful, especially for woman.

What a beautiful scenario she has written !!

Very good job.

But did the person who is in charge of the camera has any experience in taking pictures/videos ?

It is too shaky, bad angles, very poor light...

A movie to hear, not to watch, unfortunately...

I am so sorry for Stefania who deserves largely better than an amateur for her first movie.

But I am sure she will learn from this monumental mistake and her next directing will be made with professionals (S19?).
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10/10
emotional and heartbreakingly beautiful
c_ohare2318 April 2023
This short is incredible, it tells such a beautiful story of a mother and daughter. You can tell it comes from a place of love and emotion, the message behind it is so heartbreakingly true. It's been treated with such care and passion and truly encapsulates how it feel to be so far away from the people you love. The letters play such a key part on the meaning, and an important message of never forgetting who you are regardless of the relationships and friendships you find yourself in. I hope to see more of Stefania Spampinato behind the camera. This truly is Stefania's love letter from herself to her Sicily and her mamma <3.
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2/10
I didn't like the scenario,but the letter is amazing
collz-156958 April 2023
The scenario was really bad the person who was filming the scene was so bad at it( not professional) the color was faded ( pretending to be in the past that was bad) no effect just a person with a Camara .ok now about the story speechless the writer did great job , Stefania is very talented I believe this is very personal to her ,I appreciate that she's great can be a great director but in the future do not use the same person with the Camara that person destroyed the film,the editor wasn't bad ,the little Stefania so adorable she is a really actress she's going to have a good future.my opinion.
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10/10
An Emotional Watch Worth The Tears
amnax-5640318 April 2023
At first watch, even for the casual observers who haven't followed up on the story behind this short film, you're encapsulated by the views and landscapes the film brings forward. The cinematography brings the setting to life and does justice to the director's vision of making it a personal watch that pulls at the heartstrings and makes every second worth the watch. Stefania made sure the short film keeps you captivated and ensured that the camera caught the little details that speak a thousand words. If you've been keeping up with the short film, fans will know that it's a personal story to the director, Stefania Spampinato's life, and the feelings which come with telling your story are so vividly described you're left with tears by the end. Her voiceover has to be the cherry on top of the cake for me, such a calming presence that makes you want to rewatch the short film constantly. Stefania opened and poured her heart out to the world via Zita Sempri and it couldn't have been an easy thing to do, yet despite it all she brought the love story to life and gave us all a whole different meaning to pure love. The film carries sensitive details and highlights the importance of a mother daughter relationship. None of which could have been possible with our favourite Director, Miss Spampinato. Forever proud of her and so glad the world gets to see her artistic vision through her lens.
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10/10
Emotional and strong message
tmjwjtkj18 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This short is definitely worth watching! It's a touching story about her love to her mother and about following your own dreams. The scenes are well written and the camerawork is beautifully done. It gives you the feeling that you're back in 1989. There are also a number of parallels in the short between the different times (1989 and 2011).

The voiceover is done by Stefania Spampinato herself and her sister Daniele Spampinato. The fact that she made these decisions gives the short an even deeper meaning since it's based on her own true story and I'm so glad she shared it with us.

As I said before, it's a short that is definitely worth the watch!
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10/10
touching, emotional and REAL
mariacesena18 April 2023
It's an amazing short. The writing is incredible and everything about it is so beautifully made. It connects directly with the public thanks to an unreal camera work that makes you feel part of the story. Even though I've seen people discredit the photography, I think it is one of the main reasons why the short feels so personal. The way everything is shown helps you understand the relationship between Stefania and her mother on a deeper level. It shows you how little and grown Stefania saw the world, and that is a very difficult thing to do in a 10 min short. It is truly magical, moving and heart-warming.
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10/10
Beautifully written and portrayed
klchumphreys18 April 2023
Absolutely beautiful story of a mother/daughter bond. I had to use subtitles but the story was so intimately written I understood without words. The emotions the actors displayed told the story as well of the words I read on my second watch. You can literally feel the emotions as the film progresses, breathtaking!

A must see for every daughter, I think as moms we all want so much more for our children. I can't wait for my daughter to watch this short film. And, hopefully one day she will have her daughter watch it too. It says so much more than words can express.

Bravo-just beautiful Stefania!
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10/10
Heartbreakingly Beautiful
aslibektass18 April 2023
Beautifully shot & directed and created story of a wholesome and heartbreaking love between a mother and a daughter. Shows how when a mother may not have had the life she dreamed of, she wants her daughter to have all that she could ever dream of. As a 30 year old woman I've related in the sense that I've built a life that my mother was never given a chance to even think was possible, but the love and the relationship between Stefania and her mother is something that I never had and I am in awe of. Made me cry and left me speechless. Stefania is a great talent and a genius. Hope she'll receive all the love and appreciation for this short that she greatly deserves.
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10/10
An everlasting love letter from a daughter to her mama
riricaskett18 April 2023
The storytelling felt like Stefania was in the room with me, it felt true and personal. She told this story with her own words, simple words that we could relate to. It reminded me of my oldest aunt who had the same story as Stefania's mom, she told the story of women that made us who we are today that is admirable of her. Thank you Stefania for trusting us enough to share it with us.

I watched it twice in one day, and I wish I could share with all the women in my life that made an impact on my life, and the women that stood by me when I decided to study abroad, to all the women that had dreams but had to live them through me.
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10/10
Emotional and beautifull
mitsyno418 April 2023
Movie is amaizing! Storyline is soo beautiful. The bond beetween mother and daughter so strong! Filmed in a stunding Italy, looking so grat on the screen. Knowing Stefania Spampinato life story as an amazing ang homble and so special person this short movie expres everything.

Recommendation for all daughters on the world to watch. The way this is filmed evan i do not know Italian you can read it by emotions.

Maybe somone will tell it is just another story like this but it is life story for all mothera and daughters on the world the storngest bond exist and the unconditional love.

Thank you for this little mastee piece.
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10/10
Really emotional portrait of never ending love!!
amanc-7240418 April 2023
Stefania is a pure soul.

Living away from the scents of Sicily, but with dreams bigger than our home is one of the hardest things that life forces us to face.

The soft, nostalgic colors but with a look to the future and the hope of being "never a wife", not only in our relationships but also in life, despite the difficulties, losses and obstacles and everything that may take us down with a minimum gust of wind.

Wonderful use of photography and directing that fully captures every detail that allows you to experience those beautiful and pure summers where time never seemed to pass.

My sicilian heart is full of more memories now and I will never stop thanking Stefania for giving us the chance to look with her eyes inside her magical soul.
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10/10
Bravo!!
taniayramirez19 April 2023
"Zita Sempri" is a beautifully crafted short film that captures the essence of grief and the power of human connection. Stefania hit it out of the ball park. The film tells the story of a young woman named Zita who is struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of her mother. Through a series of flashbacks, we see Zita's relationship with her mother and the profound impact she had on her life. There are many one-liners that give you goosebumps.

Stefania's film direction is exceptional, and the cinematography is breathtaking. The use of light and shadow to convey the mood and emotions of the characters is masterful, and the soundtrack complements the visuals perfectly. The acting is outstanding, and the lead actress delivers a heartfelt performance that is both authentic and moving.

What makes "Zita Sempri" truly special is its message of hope and resilience. The film shows that even in the darkest of moments, we can find comfort and strength in the love and support of others. It also reminds us that grief is a natural part of the human experience, and that it's okay to feel vulnerable and to ask for help.

Overall, "Zita Sempri" is a poignant and thought-provoking film that will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or who has struggled to find meaning in difficult times. It's a testament to the power of storytelling and a tribute to the human spirit."
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10/10
Beautiful
LivinOnAPrayer-8044118 April 2023
This short is such a beautiful story. You can really feel the love and all of the emotions behind it and the message it's giving out.

I truly loved that Stefania and her sister Daniele narrated the story too..

It's been made with such love and care and really does show how it feels to be so far away from loved ones.

Stefania Spampinato really did such a wonderful job for her directorial debut and as always she really does put her all in to every single thing she does and I can't wait to see what she does next from behind the camera!!

Well done to Stefania and all the team for a remarkable short film.
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10/10
Beautiful and Heartfelt
thescrapbookpage18 April 2023
It was worth the wait! This short film conveyed in a few minutes what some films can't do in hours. The emotion is palpable, from the beginning to end in the story of a mother and a daughter who send letter while away from each other. It lets us into the hearts and minds of the pair as they live the lives they have chosen. It shows the battles they face and how they are shaped by them. It moved me to tears more than once. Stefania Spampinato, first time director, shared with us all a part of herself in this beautiful testament to living life and making it count. Again, it's a beautiful, heartfelt story. Well worth watching over and over.
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10/10
A beautiful story!
elainetyrpenou18 April 2023
This short film is nothing short of amazing. From start to finish it played on many emotions. The story was told with such honesty and one in which as a mother and daughter you can relate. This film invites viewers in to fully hear and understand the story that is being told. It truly is made with feeling, vulnerability and love.

It is a story that gives meaning to life and one in which will carry on long after watching the short. The messages in the letters are so heartfelt and so strong especially for a woman/mother/daughter to live your dreams, not to be guilty of the life you want to live.

Short, but they stick with you even after it's over.

There are so many lessons hidden in the film and you find yourself learning something new right to the end.

This was a great directional debut from Stefania Spampinato and I can't wait to see what other life stories and messages she has to bring and create behind the camera. Love your work Stefania! Keep it going and live your dream!
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10/10
Accurate representation of a child's memory
ffsrnpd18 April 2023
This film was SO beautifully done. It made me feel like I was in my own personal memory. The voice overs, the camera work, the setting, bellisima. Absolutely heart breaking and beautiful all in one. Congratulations to the writer, director and camera crew! Oh and the actors!

Not only did it bring me a sense of comfort, but also some peace. The letter at the end was absolutely beautiful and I loved the way it all clued together.

I just hope that whoever sees this film, knows the dedication it took to bring it to life because it truly was a work of art.

Congratulations to Stefania Spampinato for all her hard work.
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10/10
heartwarming and heartbreaking
sawyerjodie18 April 2023
Zita Sempri is one of the most heartbreaking but heartwarming shorts i have ever watched. The detail and the script of this short movie tore at my heart strings and left me in tears. Stefania did an amazing job at directing and really knows how to get audience's emotional and how to connect with those through film. I don't think any short film has touched me the way Zita Sempri did and i could watch it over and over again. If you get a chance i strongly suggest you watch it and let it move you in a way it did to others. The film itself creates an important message and show those around them that you can still achieve your dreams even if you don't necessarily believe or have a fear that you won't. It also gives a loving insight into Stefania's life and how she got to where she is now!
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10/10
Stunning Film and Beatifully told story
swhitaker-1069218 April 2023
Wow! Such an emotional story line told in such a gorgeous way. Stefania Spampinato has done a spectacular job with her directorial debut and it was such an honour to see her work on the screen. The story she told is such a vulnerable one and the whole crew did a beautiful job capturing every aspect of it. From the acting, writing, production, filming and directing, 'Zita Sempri' tugs on your heart strings in every way you could imagine with a story many of us are bound to relate to in one way or another. I would 10/10 recommend watching 'Zita Sempri' if you are given the opportunity, it is a film I will be sure to carry with me for the rest of my life.
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