I Was Once Told

Synopsis

In a fairy-tale realm, Saena, an irriverent fire enchantress, is preparing to gift humanity its first flame when she begins to fade. Her existence depends on the memory of Anne, a quirky seventy-year-old woman who is telling Saena’s story to her grandson, but Anne’s mind is slowly slipping away, and with it, fragments of the tale begin to vanish. Determined to survive, Saena crosses into the real world to help Anne remember, but the disease’s relentless grip cannot be undone. Through their encounter, Saena discovers that every story must end, yet its true magic lies in the moments lived along the way. Embracing this truth, she returns to her tale to savour her final moments… but only after helping Anne finish her crossword, leaving behind a spark of warmth and love.

Director

Alessandro Lombardo

Alessandro Lombardo was born in Turin and raised in Rome, where he studied Performing Arts and Film Theories. Inspired by the city’s history and its central role in Italian cinema, he collaborated with well-known filmmakers like Nanni Moretti before moving to London to earn an MA in Filmmaking, focusing on directing and producing, and adding an international dimension to the Italian style and experience he developed. Alessandro’s work fuses various genres, styles, and narrative forms, crafting immersive worlds that allow audiences to escape everyday life while forming genuine connections with real life. His films are shaped by a life of curiosity and activity, reflecting his passion for stories that are imaginative and fantastical yet personal and full of human experience.