“A whimsical, finely crafted creation; a mélange of vintage techniques, its interweaving of countless literary and cinematic references forms a film that is inarguably a product of its director’s idiosyncratic interests… Orfeo is a reworking of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth set in a highly stylized 1960s Milan and a labyrinthine underworld, and which consists of both stop-motion animation and live-action film.” – In Review Online

Villoresi’s singular take on the myth of Orpheus is an entrancing celebration of the possibilities of cinematic artifice. Villoresi reenvisions Orpheus as a loner pianist whose gaze meets that of a stranger, Eura, at the club where he performs one night; they fall in love, only for Eura to disappear almost as suddenly. Orpheus catches a glimpse of her some time later and follows her into what we come to realize is a visionary, sensual reimagination of the underworld. Adapted from Dino Buzzati’s 1969 graphic novel Poema a fumetti, Villoresi’s feature debut combines beautiful 16mm photography, lovingly handcrafted sets, meticulously orchestrated stop-motion animation, and in-camera optical effects to arrive at a mesmerizing, artisanal work that announces its director as one of Italian cinema’s most exciting new voices. An Oscilloscope Laboratories release.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.