Italian Eye in the World
HOPEFUL NOTES
Director: Valerio Zanoli
Cast: Walter Nudo, Sharon Hayes, Laural Merlington, Ian Poland, Colin Ross, Kaitlyn Squires, Kimberly Harsch, Lori Silvey
Plot
Alex is an Italian engineer who has been working in Russia for several years. At the end of his contract, he announces to his friends and colleagues that he will go back to Italy;
however, after a chance meeting with Dima, a child who is a cancer patient in a local hospital, he reconsiders his future. After being introduced by the boy to the other young patients of his ward, Alex decides to volunteer at the hospital by playing the piano to the children.
By doing so he is suddenly engulfed into a reality that is too often forgotten. Many children are in a daily fight for their lives against frightening illnesses. Hopeful Notes is an inspiring tale about bringing hope to those who have none.
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Valerio Zanoli
After graduating from the School of Cinema – TV of the University of Southern California, Zanoli produced and directed the films The Minis and Hopeful Notes. The latter was awarded the first prize at the International Social Commitment Awards and Five Doves by The Dove Foundation. Later he produced and directed the film All You Can Dream, which premiered at the Giffoni Film Festival and was awarded various international prizes. He also produced The Ghost Experiment 3D, the animated film Extra 3D and the documentary Demonic Possessions.
Trama
Alex è un ingegnere italiano che lavora in Russia da diversi anni. Alla fine del suo contratto annuncia ai suoi amici e colleghi che tornerà in Italia.
Dopo aver per caso incontrato Dima, un bambino malato di cancro in un ospedale locale, riesamina i suoi programmi. Dopo essere stato introdotto agli altri giovani pazienti del reparto, Alex decide di fare volontariato in ospedale suonando il pianoforte per i bambini.
Cosi facendo viene improvvisamente inghiottito in una realtà che è troppo spesso dimenticata. Molti bambini lottano quotidianamente per la vita contro malattie terribili. Hopeful Notes è un racconto che vuole portare speranza a coloro che non ne hanno.
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Valerio Zanoli
Dopo la laurea presso la Scuola di Cinema – TV della University of Southern California, Zanoli produce e dirige il film The Minis … Nani a canestro e Hopeful Notes. A quest’ultimo è stato assegnato il primo premio ai Premi Internazionali d’impegno sociale e Cinque premi Colombe dalla Dove Fondation. In seguito ha prodotto e diretto il film All You Can Dream presentato in anteprima al Film Festival di Giffoni ed ha ricevuto diversi premi internazionali. Ha inoltre prodotto The Ghost Experiment 3D, il film d’animazione Extra 3D e il documentario Demonic Possessions.