IT
Some encounters can change a person’s life and prove that even things that seem impossible can become reality. This is the message behind “Smartie and Me”, the film by Kacper Lisowski competing in the Elements +6 category at the 56th edition of the #GiffoniFilmFestival, which was warmly welcomed by the young #jurors in Sala Lumière.
The protagonist is Frania, a thirteen-year-old girl who seems to have everything but feels a difficult-to-explain emptiness inside. Her life changes when she meets Smartie, a stray dog searching for a family. After being taken to a veterinary clinic, the puppy ends up in the hands of people who are more interested in profit than in animal welfare. Frania therefore decides not to give up and organizes a courageous rescue mission that turns into an exciting adventure across the country, highlighting the value of friendship, courage and responsibility towards those who have no voice.
A story that perfectly connects with the theme of this year’s festival, because what seems impossible – giving a second chance to an abandoned animal, changing the fate of the most vulnerable, transforming a chance encounter into a lifelong bond – becomes possible thanks to the power of empathy and love.
After the screening, the director met the young jurors, answering their questions with great openness and enthusiasm. From the very beginning, Samuele offered him some words of encouragement: “I would like to give you some advice: keep making films like this, because you have great skills that will take you far, especially into everyone’s hearts. Make the most of your imagination, because you have a lot of it. I hope there will be a sequel”. His words brought a smile to the director’s face, confirming how deeply the story had touched the audience.
Little Gioia, meanwhile, shared the feeling that accompanied many viewers: “This film is so heartwarming. Why is the director so cruel to the dogs and why doesn’t she let them be free?”. Lisowski explained that the character “only thinks about money and not about the animals’ suffering”, highlighting the contrast between selfishness and compassion that runs throughout the story.
Luca, instead, asked why he had chosen dogs as the protagonists of the film. The answer was simple and direct: “Because dogs know how to become humans’ most loyal friends”. A statement that captures the core theme of the film, built around the special bond that can develop between humans and animals.
Finally, Laura revealed the origin of the story by describing “Smartie and Me” as “a film full of positive feelings”. The director explained that the inspiration came from a personal experience: “Three years ago, together with my daughter, we adopted a dog from a shelter. It was such a powerful emotion that I felt the need to turn it into a film”.
Amid smiles, emotion and applause, “Smartie and Me” reminded the jurors that even the simplest gestures can change someone’s world.