Vito sees people and hears voices that do not exist for others. But, his visions are his reality and very much a part of his life that no one can take away from him. Months of therapy did not help him, and thoughts of his lost love continue to haunt him. Medication is the way the world offers help, to take the voices and the vision away. But, is that what Vito wants. As he continues to have visions, the voice in his head tells him to go ahead and embrace his visions, he finds himself pulled back into reality. When a concerned friend tells Vito to get a grip over himself and go steady with his medication, Vito tells him that he prefers to live with his reality, with his visions, with the voices in his head.
‘Faded Memories’ is a Narrative short from Director Valentina Galdi. Galdi takes up a very debatable topic about how mental health is addressed by modern medicine. Galdi brings up both sides of the argument where on the one hand, tranquillizers are the best solution for calming the mind, while on the other, you cannot deal with the voices unless you confront them and open a conversation with them in your mind. A well-written film, ‘Faded Memories’ bring out in the open, the turmoil faced by an unstable mind and the ease with which it can get carried away by the voices it hears. Brilliant performances by the cast also help the cause greatly.
Taking on such a loaded topic, Galdi chooses a very emotional path in dealing with the myriad emotions that are at play, not just for the sufferer but also for loved ones looking out for him. In telling the story of a young man who realizes that both sides of the coin need to be looked into, while address his problems, Galdi succeeds in ensuring that one side is never heavier than the other in this debate.
