"The Cockroach and the Ant" by Marco La Ferrara
"Best Director"
A father and his daughter struggle to cope with the gradual decline of the girl's memory, when an unexpected encounter with an insect shakes their existence.
The central theme of the film is Alzheimer's disease, through which the bond between a mother and her son is explored. In her confused state, the mother mistakes her son—who is caring for her—for her own father.
The story is told from the mother’s point of view, and as a result, her character is portrayed on screen by a young girl. By alternating between different timelines and perspectives, the narrative weaves together reality and imagination, ultimately inverting the parent-child relationship.