Truffles - The forgotten roots: a journey through traditions, nature, and family relationships

The film “Trifole – The Forgotten Roots” IN CINEMAS FROM OCTOBER 17, directed by Gabriele Fabbro, is much more than a simple cinematic tale: it is a hymn to the rediscovery of traditions, family roots, and a love for the land, themes of profound relevance now more than ever. Set in the enchanting hills of the Langhe, a territory known for the precious White Alba Truffle, the film captivates the viewer with a narrative that intertwines personal emotions and universal messages.

A hymn to the rediscovery of traditions and family love

“Trifole” celebrates the rediscovery of roots, reminding us of the importance of passing on cultural and family heritage from generation to generation. The plot, which sees Dalia return to the Langhe to help her grandfather Igor, becomes an opportunity to explore how local traditions can be a tool to reconnect with one’s identity. Nature, in this context, is not just a setting, but a true character that reflects the care and respect humans should have towards it. This film invites us to preserve the historical memory of places and relationships, which are guardians of increasingly forgotten values.

Landscape change and environmental impacts

The radical transformation of the landscape in recent decades. Grandfather Igor’s remark, bitterly reflecting on environmental changes (“So many vineyards, so many machines. This used to be all forest…”), highlights how urbanization and the expansion of intensive agricultural activities have reduced wild spaces once rich in truffles. The disappearance of trifole is not only an economic loss for the territory, but a sign of how the balance between man and nature has been broken, exacerbated by climatic events such as lack of rain. This context brings with it human tensions, such as jealousy and violence among truffle hunters, willing to do anything to maintain control over the last fertile areas.

Myth and reality: Jupiter and the birth of truffles

In a particularly evocative moment, the film evokes the mythology of Jupiter’s lightning bolts which, according to ancient legends, give birth to truffles when they strike the earth. This element, in addition to adding a touch of magic and mystery to the narrative, underscores the deep connection between ancient mythology and the natural world. The search for truffles thus becomes not only an economic matter, but a journey into mystery and the invisible. In a world where science dominates thought, the spiritual and mythological dimension of nature remains alive in popular beliefs, and the truffle is a symbol of this ancestral connection with the earth.

A family bond inspired by personal experiences

The relationship between the protagonists Dalia and Igor is touching and reflects the deep family bond, inspired by director Fabbro’s personal story with his own grandfather, who suffered from Parkinson’s. The physical and emotional distance between grandfather and granddaughter reflects themes of incommunicability and regret, but also the desire for reconciliation. In a sense, the film is a love letter to the director’s grandfather, a way to overcome the pain of loss and honor his memory. This universal theme of grief and regret blends perfectly with the narrative of truffle hunting, an activity that requires patience, respect, and connection with nature, just like the deepest family ties.

The economic power of truffles and human corruption

One of the key themes of the film is also the economic opportunity offered by the sale of the precious fine white truffle, a symbol of wealth and prestige in the culinary world. Igor hopes that finding a large truffle can save his home and his connection to the land, but this hope is threatened by human wickedness. Competition among truffle hunters becomes fierce, with envy and violence emerging. This reflects how greed and moral corruption can prevail over values such as respect and community, making evident the fragility of the balance between man and nature, but also between men themselves.

Gabriele Fabbro – Biography

Gabriele Fabbro, born in Milan in 1996, is a director and screenwriter with an international background. A graduate in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, he has directed and produced over 30 works, including feature films, short films, and music videos. One of his most notable works is the music video If You Run (2020) for Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age). His short film 8 (2019) was screened at the 76th Venice Film Festival, while his first feature film The Grand Bolero premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2021 and was distributed on Amazon Prime Video. In 2022, Fabbro was recognized as a “Screenwriter to Watch” by MovieMaker Magazine.

 

Gabriele Fabbro

 

Director’s Notes

With Trifole – The Forgotten Roots, Gabriele Fabbro aimed to give voice to disappearing Italian traditions, inspired by his strong connection to nature and family. The film explores profound themes such as respect for roots, the preservation of local culture, and the importance of maintaining a bond with the land. Fabbro spent two years in the Langhe, engaging with truffle hunters, farmers, and local residents to create an authentic narrative, supported by co-screenwriter Ydalie Turk.

From a stylistic point of view, he adopted a delicate visual approach, characterized by minimal camera movements, harmonious framing, and cinematography that enhances landscapes and details. The inspiration for the main characters, Dalia and Igor, comes from Fabbro’s personal relationship with his grandfather, who suffered from Parkinson’s, a bond he wanted to explore on screen. The casting choice, featuring actors such as Umberto Orsini, Ydalie Turk, and Margherita Buy, helped lend authenticity and depth to the story. Even Birba, a real truffle dog, but with an obvious talent for acting! She played a significant role, adding a touch of authenticity to the narrative.

Fabbro paid particular attention to post-production, with an emphasis on sound and music, using classical themes by Respighi, Borodin, and Rachmaninoff, performed by the Bartolomeo Bruni Symphony Orchestra. This musical approach, combined with the recording of natural sounds from the Langhe, made it possible to create a film that celebrates the culture and beauty of the region, highlighting the authentic spirit of his homeland.

 

Umberto Orsini

Ydalie Turk

Margherita Buy

Birba

Conclusion

“Trifole – The Forgotten Roots” is a film that invites reflection on our connection with the land, family, and traditions. Through its engaging narrative and the breathtaking landscapes of the Langhe, the film offers us a perspective on how local culture and nature can be resources to protect, both emotionally and economically. At the same time, it warns us of the consequences of human greed and encourages us to seek reconciliation with ourselves, with our history, and with the world around us.

THE ITALIAN TRAILER: Youtube Link

TRIFOLE – The Forgotten Roots is realized with the contribution of the PR FESR Piemonte 2021-2027 – Piemonte Film TV Fund call, with the support of Film Commission Torino Piemonte and key institutions of the Langhe: Torino Piemonte Film Commission, the Municipalities of Alba and Somano, the Langhe Monferrato Roero Tourism Board, the Alba Fair Board, the National Truffle Study Center, the Alba Traders Association, the Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe Dogliani Consortium, the Piedmontese Cavour Regional Enoteca, and the Radici Foundation.