Diego Marcon
The Parents’ Room
18 December 2019 – 14 November 2021
The Parents’ Room is a film by Diego Marcon.
The film is part of Marcon’s research aimed at investigating the representation of reality through the destructuring of the cinematographic language and its most popular and codified genres.
In 2020 and 2021, INCURVA led and coordinated the production of the film The Parents’ Room, a series of screenings across Europe, and the publication of Diego Marcon’s first monograph. Following the project’s completion, The Parents’ Room became part of Madre – museo d’arte contemporanea Donnaregina’s (Naples) permanent collection.
The Parents’ Room was exhibited at 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, titled The Milk of Dreams and curated by Cecilia Alemani.
In a bedroom, perched on the edge of an unmade bed, a man looks out a window at the falling snow. A blackbird settles on the windowsill and strikes up a melody. The man begins to sing the murders of his wife and two little children as well as his own suicide. One by one, his son and daughter appear, and his wife turns, each singing a verse of their own.
The Parents' Room
35mm film, CGI animation, color, sound, loop, 2021
Theatrical version: 10'02''
A film by Diego Marcon
Produced by: Jacqui Davies
Producer: Camilla Romeo
Original Score: Federico Chiari
Production & Prosthetics Design: Lorenzo Cianchi
Cinematography: Pierluigi Laffi
Animation & Compositing: Diego Zuelli
Performers: Massimiliano Balduzzi; Beatrice Giavarini; Huey Lockwood; Chiara Serangeli
Camera Assistant: Gaia Ferme
Grip: Massimo Pozzoli
Gaffer: Paolo Pastaccini
Prosthetics: Jennifer Drew, FX Maximal
Wigs: Audello Teatro Srl
Makeup Effects: Carlo Diamantini
Makeup Effects Assistant: Mauro Fabriczky
Additional Special Effects: Fabrizio Lorenzelli
Costumes & Decor: Alma Libera Uggeri
Set Construction: Francesco Casamonti
Set Dresser: Valentina Bigaran
Artist Assistant: Giulia Guidi
Finance & Accounting: Emanuela Pigliacelli
Production Service: Giulia Fiore, Altamarea Film Srl
Location: Tenuta di Sticciano
Equipment: Movie People Spa
Transportation: Autonoleggio Biglioli Srl
Safety & Health: Sicurezza Lavoro Sala
Film Processing Laboratory: Kodak Film Lab London
Color Grading: Herbert Posch, Vidéo de Poche
Mixing Engineer: Lorenzo Dal Ri
Online Editing: Iggy Post Milano
Backstage Photography: Erola Arcalìs; Chiara Fossati; Ilaria Orsini; Lilia Stroject
Soundtrack
The Parents’ Room Theme
Composed by Federico Chiari
Arranged by Luca Missiti
Lyrics: Diego Marcon
English Language Consultants: Ben Bazalgette; Johanna Bishop
Vocals
The father: Tom Rust
The mother: Claudia Tellini
The children: Trinity Boys Choir
The blackbird: Cleo Fariselli
Ensemble
Double Bass: Emiliano Amadori
Trombone: Andrea Andreoli
Flugelhorn: Alessandro Bottachiari
Bassoon: Caterina Carrier
Tuba: Matteo Magli
Flugelhorn: Daniele Moretto
Horn: Daniele Navone
Flute: Carlo Nicita
Bass Clarinet: Giancarlo Porro
Oboe: Alessandro Rauli
Harp: Elisa Sargenti
Clarinet: Gilberto Tarocco
Recorded at Ishtar, Milano
Vocals recorded at Trinity School of Music, London
Sound Mix: Marti Jane Robertson
Blackie’s Song (screening version)
Composed by Federico Chiari
Lyrics: Federico Chiari; Diego Marcon
English Language Consultant: Ben Bazalgette
Performed by Freddie Jemison
Recorded at Trinity School of Music, London
Production
Produced by INCURVA; Museo MADRE – Fondazione Donnaregina per le arti contemporanee, Primitive Film. With the support of FIDLab – International Coproduction Platform
Supported by the Italian Council (7th Edition, 2019), a program by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture that promotes Italian contemporary art in the world.
Special Thanks
ERMES ERMES, Rome-Vienna; Fondazione In Between Art Film, Rome; Fondazione Memmo, Rome; and Gasworks, London.
Press
Sam Talbot, Isabel Davies
Gloria Zerbinati (Cinema and Festivals)
As part of the film production project, INCURVA coordinated the following exhibitions of The Parents’ Room:
Premiere of the theatrical version
Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes, France
7–17 July 2021
Screening of the theatrical version
FIDMarseille, Marseille, France
19–25 July 2021
Solo exhibition and premiere of the loop version
Madre Museum, Naples, Italy
Curated by Eva Fabbris and Andrea Viliani.
16 September – 8 November 2021
More info
Site-specific installation of the loop version
and conversation with Diego Marcon, Eva Fabbris and Andrea Viliani
Cinema King, Trapani, Italy
9 October 2021 More Info
Screening of the loop version
Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
12–14 November 2021