Espresso Cinema: Trifole (Truffles)

In this bittersweet portrait of a vanishing rural way of life, Trifole follows Dalia, (co-writer Ydalia Turk) a young Londoner with Italian roots who has been sent to check on her grandfather, Igor (Umberto Orsini), in a remote corner of Piedmont. 

Igor is a recluse who has dropped out of contact while slowly succumbing to dementia. Dalia fears the worst, but discovers a spry widower living a satisfying life. He spends his days questing for white truffles in the woods that surround his cottage, aided by his pet dog, Birba (played by a real life truffle hunting dog!).

However, Igor’s impoverished life of contentment has come at a price. His house is being repossessed, the mortgage payments having long been ignored, and he and Dalia have just days to find 40,000 euros. Armed with Igor's field notes, Dalia searches for a prizewinning truffle to save his home.

Shot on location in the Alba region, Trifole offers audiences an authentic experience into Italy’s truffle-hunting culture.  Director Gabriele Fabbro says, “I wanted to tell a visually dynamic adventure that celebrates the value of family, heritage, and the importance of conserving nature. This story is a love letter to my grandfather, my heritage, and my homeland, Italy.” 

This gorgeous movie that’s making the rounds on the film festival circuit is a feast for the senses. Not surprisingly, the film is in the running for a Premi David de Donatello, the Italian equivalent of winning an Oscar at the Academy Awards. 

English and Italian with English subtitles.

Screening at Luna Leederville.