Trifole
Directed by Gabriele Fabbro
Starring Umberto Orsini, Ydalie Turk
2024 | Drama | 1h 41m
This acclaimed Italian film has been shown at several festivals in the United States — Palm Springs, Miami, Sonoma, Santa Barbara and Phoenix. Look for standout performances by Umberto Orsini as Igor, fighting old age and partial memory loss, and especially Ydalie Turk as Dalia, desperately looking for a purpose in life. Forbes Magazine calls it the “must see” film for fans of truffles.
At the urging of her mother, young Dalia leaves London and travels to the Piedmont region of Italy to check on her reclusive grandfather Igor. She is about to enter a new world, the secretive life of foraging for truffles, where knowledge is handed down orally from generation to generation.
The unique experience of truffle hunting and cooking with truffles is centuries old in Italy, and is a cultural tradition recognized by UNESCO. Dalia knows none of this and is not enthusiastic about leaving London city life, taking a train to a village in Italy and then trudging past vineyards in search of a grandfather she has never seen.
Directed by Gabriele Fabbro, Trifole unfolds slowly in natural light, as Dalia finds her grandfather in a small cabin surrounded by vineyards. She exclaims, “how beautiful!” when looking at the vineyards. Her grandfather Igor glares at her. No! He responds. How ugly! Think of the beautiful forest cut down to make room for these grape vines! Their cultural perspectives clash at first meeting.
While Igor forages for the elusive white truffles with his talented dog Birba, Dalia sniffs around as her mother Marta would wish – finding the landline receiver is off the hook because Igor does not want to be disturbed, and locating the prescription medicine he is not taking.
The unique experience of truffle hunting and cooking with truffles is centuries old in Italy, and is a cultural tradition recognized by UNESCO.
When he returns, they cook on a wood-burning stove and eat simple meals. They ask about each other’s lives. His passion is foraging for the white truffles. She does not have a direction yet. You will, he says with encouragement.
Scene by scene we are introduced to what it is like to reach across that generational divide and look at the life of an aging forager who talks to his potted plants, his dog Birba, the weather god Jupiter and eventually to Dalia. She falls under the spell of the land and his singular passion for the life he leads.
Using her cell phone, something Igor has never seen before, she complains to her mother Marta about her family assignment. Her tone changes gradually as the days pass. Dalia becomes concerned about Igor, especially when she discovers why the phone is off the hook and why he cautions her never to answer the door. For some time Igor has not paid his mortgage, and now the landlord is moving against him.
Igor prays for the big rain, and when it comes, he is ecstatic. There will be truffles after this big rain. When he is not well enough to hunt, he insists Dalia go in his place. Take my little book, he says, and then follow Birba. Dressed in heavy coat and boots, carrying tools in a backpack and accompanied by Birba, Dalia ventures out.
WATCH: TRIFOLE Official Trailer
Then her adventure begins in earnest. She is committed now, sharing the passion of her grandfather, unaware of the dangers in this highly competitive field. As difficulties mount during her search, she encounters a wolf, just as Igor did during a pivotal time in his life. The wolf vanishes but Dalia has been shown the way.
What follows are fascinating and surreal moments, which I shall let the movie goer discover for individual delight.
When Dalia returns to Igor, her mother Marta has arrived. Igor and Dalia embrace and communicate without words. He sees the new growth, the change in his granddaughter and is pleased.
This gently paced film, full of autumnal color and natural sounds, is a tribute to a region and way of life. The director and producers have dedicated this film:
“To all the people of the Langhe region who shared their stories with us.”
In English and Italian with subtitles. Trifole is in wide release.
Highly recommended.
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