Dreams Live in Trees
Feature 1h53
Country of Origin United Kingdom
Directed by: Marco Della Fonte
Cast: Kiera Morgan, Pietro Ragusa, Evita Ciri, Rinat Khismautoline, Giusi Merli, Fausto Maria Sciarappa
Dreams Live in Trees synopsis
The story is inspired by true events, which took place in 1978 when Italy became the first country in the world to abolish mental asylums. Upon a closure of a “lunatic asylum” in Florence Anja returns home into the care of her brother Ettore and his wife Lisa. For her family Anja is a difficult woman with mental health problems, who spent most of her life coming in and out of mental institutions. With the help and a great sensitivity from her newly appointed psychiatrist Anja slowly starts to adapt to her new life beyond the asylum.
She meets Libero, a local man who delivers vegetables to people in the village. Libero, just like Anja, suffers from mental disorder and learning disabilities. He lives with his mother and is known in the local community as “a crazy murderer”. Years earlier he accidentally killed his father trying to defend his mother. He was arrested and sent to a criminal asylum where he spent a prolonged period of time in isolation.
Anja and Libero fall in love. They conduct their relationship under the protection of a secret shack in the middle of the forest surrounded by colored trees, which become the symbol of their love. They face prejudice from Anja’s family and a small town, where they both live. When Anja gets pregnant her family does everything to separate her from Libero and prevent the birth of an “unacceptable” family. An unexpected event brings morality into question.
Will Anja and Libero be allowed to keep their baby despite their mental health?
Marco Della Fonte Fimography
2020 – DREAMS LIVE IN TREES
2019 – AISA (Short Film)
2019 – A SOUL JOURNEY (Music Drama Documentary)
2016 – NOTHING BY CHANCE – Fashion Short Film (10’)
2015 – REVERSION – Short Film (30′)(Selected at Cannes Film Festival 2014 Corner – Best Screenplay Indian Cine Int. Film Festival, Platinum Award at Worldfest Int. Film Festival)
2014 – LAMBORGHINI “THE DRIFT” – Web series(4×6′)
2013 – NO NUCLEAR WEAPON – Int. Promo Campaign for UN (3’)
2012 – IEO-European Institute of Oncology – Documentary (25’)
2010 – THE ICE VALLEY – Documentary (7’)
2008 – AWAITING WINTER – Docu-Drama (25’)
2005 – SOLVITE ME – Short Film (8’)
2003 – CHILDREN ARE NOT PATIENT(S) – Docu-Drama (25’)
2002 – SCHIZOPHRENIC BEHAVIOUR – Documentary (40’)
2001 – SPOTTERS – Short Film (3’)
2000 – WANTED: SEX – Short Film (15’)
2000 – HAKERBUK – Disney Channel TV Series (25’)
2000 – PIXEL – Short Film (3’)
1999 – WASH AND DRY – Short film
1998 – THE POLITICIAN – Short Film (8 ‘)
1997 – DIFFERENCE – Short Film (10’)
1997 – OZONE – Short Film (20’) Second Prize Florence Film Festival.
1996 – SAHARAWI: PEOPLE IN EXILE documentary (30’)
1995 – JANNIS KOUNELLIS – Documentary (10’)
1991 – IL MESSAGGERO – Documentary (10’) First Prize Venice Film Fes
Cannes 7th Art Awards 2022
International Award – Grand Prize:
«Dreams live in trees» by Marco Della Fonte / United Kingdom
International Award – Best Director:
Marco Della Fonte «Dreams live in trees» / United Kingdom