The lifespan of a poppy is fleeting. Similarly, romantic love is sometimes just as brief before it loses its allure. Two women share a fragile, intense bond, strained by silence and doubt. When one hesitates, the delicate balance begins to fracture.
Coquelicot (French for “Poppy”) is a short film without spoken dialogue (‘Silent movie’) recorded in 16-Millimeter Film (with anamorphic lenses in 2.40:1 aspect ratio) to commemorate 100 years since the introduction of this format (‘Happy 100th Birthday, 16-Millimeter Film’, New York Times).
This is a personal project written and directed by Morena Sarzo in collaboration with Blau! Production, to create their first Film project. Music composed and performed by Tommaso Ermolli.
The characters in the short film are played by Elisabetta Solin, Francesca Angelillo, Mattia Cabrele and Serena Bazzocchi.
The Poppy’s Whisper
The poppy is the leitmotif of the story and it symbolizes the often brief nature of love. There are four characters within this tale, each with their own colour and story. The colour red tints and suffuses a transitory moment of desire and becomes the predominant colour haunting the protagonist (Elisabetta Solin), who comes to realize that her secret has been discovered.
Characters and Colors
The story revolves around four central characters, each deeply tied to their designated color, illuminating their individual journeys.
Light blue is the colour of the male character and of the sky that slowly becomes tainted with red. Yellow is another prominent colour, representing the protagonist and the sunflowers in the open field, as they turn to follow the warmth, just as the protagonist follows her desires and passions.
The kiss of desire changes the path of love but this moment of passion will not remain without consequences.
In this tale, the poppy stands as a bittersweet reminder of love’s transient nature, urging us to cherish each moment before it fades into memory.
Selected at the festival:
Rainbow Umbrella Film Festival, London, UK
Oneness Film Festival 2025, Toronto, Canada
Mediterranean Film Festival Cannes Milan Athens
BangkokThai International Film Festival
and Honorable Mention at the Greece International film festival 2025
Morena Sarzo Films 