Article by Marilina Rita Monzo

Translation by Aurora Monteleone

Controluce – the documentary by Tony Saccucci, presented at the 42nd Torino Film Festival and produced by Luce Cinecittà – is an intense reflection on the life and work of Adolfo Porry-Pastorel, one of the leading figures in early 20th-century Italian photography. The movie skillfully combines archival footage and fictional sequences, creating a visual dialogue that surprises with its harmony and guides the viewer into a distant yet remarkably contemporary era.

Michele Eburnea gracefully portrays not only the innovative photographer but also the sharp and ironic observer of a society in transformation. Always in the right place at the right time, Porry-Pastorel transformed the way of narrating the world through images, capturing decisive moments in history. The documentary blends biographical storytelling with a meditation on the power of images to represent the contradictions of an era. Remembered as “Mussolini’s photographer” for his documentation of the regime’s pivotal moments, Porry-Pastorel’s photographs offer a lucid and ironic perspective, capable of grasping the contradictions of that historical period. A distinctive narrative element is the presence of Nino, his young assistant, who guides the viewer through the photographer’s memories and experiences, striking a balance between precision and emotion.
Controluce is a tribute to Adolfo Porry-Pastorel and to photography as a medium for narrating history, celebrating the power of images to freeze time and make the moment immortal.