«Etilismo» by Giuseppe Messina

Alcoholism becomes a metaphor for loneliness and loss of contact with the world in “Etilismo,” the debut film by Italian director Giuseppe Messina. It is a powerful short film that delves with tenderness into the raw and often overlooked struggles of addiction and mental health among young people.

The film reworks with a lively gaze, on the edge between the innocence and anxiety of childhood, the emptiness of the days of the COVID-19 pandemic that deprived everyone, especially the youngest, of the social network outside the home, and its tragic consequences.

“Etilismo” follows a young man struggling with the consequences of a traumatic event that has turned his life upside down. His descent into alcoholism is both heartbreaking and relatable, as we witness his isolation and the gradual erosion of his support system.

The young director, who also stars in the film, as Edo, does not shy away from depicting the darkness of alcoholism, but also offers a vision of hope through the power of connection and shared experience, thanks to his friendship with Luisa, played by Maria Chiara Marzollo.

Austere images of a small Italian provincial town and minimalist dialogue convey a sense of intimacy, the immobility that takes little to turn into isolation, and the desire to find one’s identity.

However, “Etilismo” is not just a story of despair, but of healing. The protagonist’s encounter with another person struggling with addiction offers a glimmer of hope, demonstrating the power of shared experience and the possibility of finding comfort in connection.

“Etilismo” offers a universal message of fall and rebirth, but it is also the raw portrait of a wounded, but sensitive and talented generation. Don’t miss this short film, available in Italy on Amazon Prime Video in a pay-per-view system.

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