Notturno was shot in the ancient waters of Saturnia, Italy by Marco Adamo Graziosi and Maria Host-Ivessich. Narrated with a poem by Sylvia Plath, the film is beautifully ethereal and eerie.
“The two girls are wild creatures, sisters, who are regenerated each night and die each dawn under the beholder’s eye”, says Maria. Saturnia is a spa town in Tuscany, the water that flows through the town creates natural pools and sulfurous waterfalls. The location went along with the pre-Rafaelite style that was the inspiration for the clothing.
Maria, who is both the director and stylist for Notturna, said she also had a shoot by Peter Lindbergh in the back of her mind. The story was shot in ’93 for Harper’s Bazaar and featured Natalia Vodianova in a gorgeous Alexander McQueen dress standing on the shoreline, as if she had just emerged from the sea. “I wanted the clothes to be in harmony with everything around them”. Maria found this in Italian designer Alberto Aspesi’s line This is a door; Here is a sea., “with its colors and materials, it was simply perfect. No shoes, no accessories…the clothing is just part of what they are”. The long haired sisters were played by Hana Habrahamova at Major, Eulalia at Boom, and created a fairy tale aura around them. “The models were awesome”, explains Marco, “You wouldn’t think but the location was full of troubles: The water was very hot and smelled of sulfur, the ground was muddy and slippery. Despite this they have never hesitated to respond to our requests. Real professionals”.
Marco Adamo Graziosi and Maria Host-Ivessich have been a happy couple for six years, and just recently have collaborated as a creative team. “We have developed our professional lives together and our connection is difficult to explain with words”, says Marco.
Credits
Directing & Styling by Marco Adamo Graziosi & Maria Host-Ivessich
Modelling by Hana Habrahamova @ Major, Eulalia @Boom
Hair & Makeup by Christina Troja
All clothing by Alberto Aspesi
Narration by Carlotta Cioffi
Sound by Marco Adamo Graziosi
DOP Alessandro Capuzzi
Post-Production Sette Secondi Circa
Special thanks to Giovanna Dipaola, Emilio Otani, Sunny Ham, Pupi Solari, and Alberto Aspesi.
