BAD PENNY – Memory is the final bond

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“Bad Penny” by Yuri Costantino, 2023

Bad Penny, directed by Yuri Costantino, follows Anne’s journey through memories in an attempt to bring back home J., her partner and a military pilot lost after an air conflict. This creative documentary delves deeply into themes of love and loss, visually expressing Anne’s moving journey through memory with a collage of archival footage from American sources that span from World War I and the Vietnam War to the more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Costantino blends these historical images with original, dreamlike scenes of Anne and J. in their old age, crafting a narrative that transcends individual memory.

J.’s letters and Anne’s recollections merge with images of soldiers and war-torn chaos, creating a fragmented reality. Aerial landscape shots are interwoven with depictions of wartime horrors, revealing the psychological burden that war imposes on both soldiers and those awaiting their return. The narrative becomes a profound reflection on solitude, loss, and the yearning for peace, as well as on the role of writing and photography in preserving personal and collective histories.
The story’s darkness intensifies, exposing the dissonance between love and war, leading to a suspended, almost dreamlike ending. Bad Penny stands as a testament to love’s endurance amid the upheavals of war, urging us to reflect on personal stories often overshadowed by major historical events.

 Author: Silvia Susca

Did you enjoy the article? Watch the trailer for the film HERE!

This film is part of the program Short Film Day Northern Hemisphere, December 21, 2024.

To learn about our 2022 selection, visit our SHORT FILM DAY – 2024 page!