Director’s notes

Inspired by the summers of my adolescence on Lake Garda, “Smooth runs the Water” is set in 1981, the year of the death of Rino Gaetano, a singer-songwriter who deeply influenced me.

Against the backdrop of Villa La Scala, the final summer of two young lovers is sketched out. Both dream of fulfilling their artistic aspirations; however, differences in social background create a gap between them. Unlike Renzo, Monica is privileged hence retains a naive trust in the idea that any goal can be achieved, convincing Renzo as well that hard work will eventually pay off.

The final tragedy reflects the harsh reality that conditions our society, showing how social context often determines the fate of many people. Renzo, therefore, disappears even before his first attempt to have a breakthrough in the real world.