Ennius’ voice crosses the centuries, weaving Messapians, Aeneas, Augustus and Saint Peter into a journey where myth and history merge in the landscapes of Salento, and where the past becomes the lifeblood of our future.
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Director Biography – Roberto Leone
Roberto Leone is an Italian filmmaker, producer, and cinematography teacher based in Salento. With a background that blends visual storytelling and advanced technical expertise, he develops projects that explore history, identity, and the relationship between landscapes and memory. His work combines a refined aesthetic with documentary sensitivity, often highlighting the cultural heritage of Southern Italy. Alongside his creative practice, he teaches cinematography and mentors emerging filmmakers, contributing to the growth of a new generation of visual artists.
Director Statement
“Pater Ennius, tutte le storie portano a Roma” was born from a desire to reconnect the present with the deep cultural roots that shape our identity. In this film, I explore how the voice of Ennius—poet, witness, and symbolic father of Roman memory—can still resonate within contemporary landscapes. His words become a bridge between epochs, reminding us that history is not a distant archive but a living presence that continues to speak through places, gestures, and silences.
My intention was not to recreate the past, but to let it emerge through fragments: archaeological traces, rural paths, the light of Salento, and the echoes of ancient languages. I wanted the film to feel like an encounter—intimate, almost whispered—between the viewer and a voice that has travelled across centuries.
As a filmmaker and cinematography instructor, I am drawn to the intersection of visual poetry and historical inquiry. This project allowed me to merge these two dimensions, crafting a work where image and memory coexist. Pater Ennius is ultimately a reflection on origins, on the stories we inherit, and on the enduring dialogue between the ancient world and our own.
| Roberto Leone Director, Writer La Signora del Mare Ennio Suma Key Cast “Quinto Ennio” Giada Indino Key Cast “Rea Silvia” Luigi Ricchiuto Key Cast “Enea” Salvatore Bisanti Key Cast “San Pietro” Lavinia Mascialino Key Cast “Otacilia Secundilla” Gabriele Stella Key Cast “Ottaviano Augusto” Cuore di Carta Enrico Pellegrino Key Cast “Marco Vipsanio Agrippa” |
