Original Film Title: RADIX
Director’s Name: Cristiano Leone
Writer’s Name: Lucius Annaeus Seneca, transl. Tommasso Gazzarri
Producer’s Name: Cristiano Leone Production SRLS
Country of Origin: Italy
Country of Filming: Italy
Language: English, Italian, Latin, Spanish
Runtime: 12 minutes 40 seconds
Film Description:
RADIX is an experimental audiovisual project that connects dance, architecture, painting and literature. It encourages the dialogue between contemporary creation and historical heritage.
RADIX is shot in the circular Bramante’s Tempietto in Rome, at the exact point where the Martyrdom of Saint Peter took place.
Spanish choreographer Iván Pérez dances in ascending spiral movements while interacting with the text De Brevitate Vitae (‘On the Shortness of Life’) by Latin philosopher Seneca, a contemporary of Saint Peter.
The aesthetics of the short film pays homage to the painting “Liberation of Saint Peter” by Bramante’s friend Raphael, emphasizing the idea of a feast of illustrious spirits to which we are all invited.
The dramaturgy of the film highlights the desire of liberating body and mind from the social confinement during which it was shot.
RADIX is conceived and directed by Cristiano Leone, and promoted by the Cultural Office of the Spanish Embassy, with the collaboration of the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome and the Instituto Cervantes in Rome.