A short film exploring the delicate intersection of childhood and adulthood, touching on universal themes of vulnerability, growing up and self-acceptance.
Dente da latte
Thesis Project by F. Catapang, R. M. Gioffré, G. Raimondi and F. E. Zanchetti - Undergraduate course in Cinema and Video Design - IED Roma
Academic year
2025/2026
A loose baby tooth sparks an intense confrontation in Dente da Latte, a 13-minute psychological drama created by Francesco Catapang, Raffaele Michele Gioffré, Giorgia Raimondi and Francesca Elisa Zanchetti. At a swimming pool, a strict instructor loses patience with a young girl who keeps complaining about her painful tooth. Determined to put an end to the situation, she tries to remove it by force, triggering a confrontation that exposes both characters' fears and vulnerabilities.
The four students draw on themes of motherhood, grief and unresolved trauma to develop the screenplay and its two central characters. What begins as a seemingly ordinary childhood experience becomes a story about growing up and coming to terms with one's own fragility. The familiar symbolism of losing a baby tooth takes on a deeper meaning, as the instructor, rather than the child alone, is forced to confront her fears.
These emotional tensions inform the film's directing and visual approach. Handheld camerawork and tight close-ups bring the audience into the confrontation, capturing the characters' reactions and the physical intensity of their encounter. The swimming pool provides the setting for a story in which the environment plays an important role in shaping the atmosphere. The students bring the film from screenplay to screen, working across cinematography, production design, costumes, makeup and special effects. Particular care is also given to colour correction and grading in post-production, helping establish the visual mood of the film.
Credits
Francesca Elisa Zanchetti - Director
Raffaele Michele Gioffré - Producer
Francesco Catapang - Director of Photography
Giorgia Raimondi - Production Designer
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