Specular Films presents
ChocolateTronchetto
A quiet portrait of loneliness and disconnection, the silence that settles between the elderly and the world that has moved on without them.
Specular Films presents
A quiet portrait of loneliness and disconnection, the silence that settles between the elderly and the world that has moved on without them.
When 16-year-old Lily is forced to spend Christmas with her grandmother Franky, an independent woman full of old-school wisdom, they clash over what it means to be family. But through small acts of care, tension, and a long-standing tradition of baking the Chocolate Tronchetto, both come to rediscover each other.
Inspired by a real Christmas spent in isolation during the pandemic, this short film explores intergenerational disconnection, the emotional lives of the elderly, and the quiet power of unconditional love. A story about how easily we drift from those who shaped us, and how a shared gesture can still bring us back.
“This story was born from a Christmas I didn't expect. I had planned to go home to Italy after months apart from my family, but Covid changed everything. My grandmother picked me up from the airport, and I ended up spending the entire holiday with her in her countryside home. Without distractions or Wi-Fi, I found a connection I hadn't made space for in years. Through coffee, long conversations, and her handmade food, I realised how much we leave unspoken, and how deeply our grandparents still wait for us.”Nicole Favarelli
Chocolate Tronchetto reflects a sadly common reality: how isolated many elderly people feel, even within their own families. I wanted to show how easy it is to make a difference, by being present, listening, and simply showing up. Through a warm lens and bittersweet tone, this short asks us to reconsider how we care for the people who once cared for us.
