6/12 ForReel Score | 3/5 Stars

It has been said that everyone processes grief differently. Whether plagued to advance through life with a sense of stoicism, tenderness, or anguish, the pain remains long after the loss. That loss can lead to a mass of existential thoughts. Inspired by his own personal loss, Writer/Director Eitan Pitigliani uses his short film Sissy to examine mourning, mortality, and the afterlife with an artistic lense. In the span of this 20 minute film, Pitigliani delivers a heartfelt story, taking the audience through the stages of grief, however the script does more legwork than necessary.

Following the death of his mother, Luca (Vincenzo Vivenzio) grapples with reality as he is unable to be part of a world without her. He uses drugs and sleeps on the street to escape the pain, yet it helps him feel closer to her in an odd way. Luca decides to return home for his father’s birthday when something unexpected helps him reevaluate his choices.

For many individuals the biggest struggle with death is the unknown. What happens to the soul after it leaves the physical form? What afterlife is waiting beyond this world? The living beg to understand the unexplainable and tend to find solace in the strangest of places. It is unexpected to find comfort and guidance to high moral dilemmas from a child. Sissy, played by 7 year-old Dea Lanzaro, comes to Luca to help him better understand his grief and find peace. He is then able to recognize his mother outside of her role as a caregiver.

In discussing the film with John Higgins in an interview for Film And TV Now, Pitigliani explains that not too long after his mothers passing, he encountered Dea Lanzaro. In Italian Dea translates to Goddess, and she indeed would ultimately act as his savior, reminding him that life is meant to be honored. Her guidance and compassion would lead Pitigliani to escape his destructive behavior and return to filmmaking. He ultimately casted Lanzaro in the role of Sissy - an admirable casting choice that adds a special quality to the film’s production. Though certain lines don’t reach their full impact, Lanzaro captures the maturity and whimsy of the role and ultimately shines bright in this debut acting performance.

Sissy pitches an intriguing premise, depicting one’s soul returning to adolescent state in order to fully enjoy the afterlife. But it’s not the odd premise that can make Sissy feel off kilter - it’s the dialog. Pitigliani’s overuse of conversations to explore the nooks and crannies of this scenario ultimately hinders his film. There’s an over abundance of explanation when it comes to Sissy’s experience, and the expression of her newfound freedom may have been better illustrated visually, rather than preached at Luca. For example, adding more flashbacks or experimenting with the visual interpretation of the celestial journey would have been small changes that could have gone a long way for the plot. As it is, Sissy feels as if the story was trying hard to be understood, not interpreted.

Pitigliani has received much acclaim for his previous shorts, such as In This Life, Like A Butterfly, and Insane Love. And currently, he’s in the final stages of production on his first feature. As for Sissy, Pitigliani offers a charming and thought provoking story; a reminder that love is stronger than anything, even death. The film could have leaned further into the ethereal elements, but that does not take away from the ideas Pitigliani is striving to define and the potential of the plot. Sissy utilizes a 7-year-old to deliver a poignant message about acceptance to Luca as this 20 minute film delivers a powerful story to audiences - both cases demonstrating that compelling lessons can come in small packages.

CIFF 2022 | SHORT FILM REVIEW: "Sissy" - A Youthful Look At Death