Synopsis
Pupa’s Garden is an intimate and touching portrait of Ida Emma Lonati Frati, known by everyone as Nonna Pupa. In the early 80s, Nonna Pupa cleaned up an illegal garbage dump and turned it into a beautiful botanical garden for her community in Cernobbio on Lake Como, Italy. Balancing her days between caring for her daughter struck by Multiple Sclerosis and creating this magical garden, Nonna Pupa was a precursor in environmental awareness and therapeutic gardening. Her resilience, creativity and charm inspires us all to continue in her footsteps.
A word from Tënk
Pupa's Garden is a warm and loving family portrait that invites viewers into the life of Ida Emma Lonati Frati, affectionately known as Nonna Pupa. Shot on a camcorder, we often feel the thoughtful hands of its filmmaker, Giulia Frati, adding a personal touch to this intimate documentary. For fifty minutes, we are welcomed as honorary grandchildren, experiencing the world through Nonna Pupa's eyes.
The film opens with Nonna Pupa starting her day, opening the shutters of her home and enjoying breakfast. Her exclamation, "It’s so good! Exquisite!" as she sips her coffee, immediately reveals a woman full of humility. This simple moment sets the tone for a portrait of a life well lived with profound appreciation and gratitude.
Pupa's Garden draws parallels to Chantal Akerman’s No Home Movie (2015) and Dis-moi (1980), as well as Wang Bing’s Mrs. Fang. Connections to these titles resonate in the film's quiet, observational style and its focus on the everyday moments that define Nonna Pupa’s life. Throughout the film, Nonna Pupa is interviewed by her granddaughter and we are invited into her home, where she recounts her fascinating life story. One of the most remarkable tales is how, in the 1980s, Nonna Pupa transformed a dump into a gardener’s oasis on Italy’s Lake Como, a testament to her vision and perseverance.
The documentary offers an intimate glimpse into Nonna Pupa’s daily routine. We see her dusting picture frames with care, dancing joyfully in her garden with a hose, and providing meticulous care to her daughter Giovanna, who has multiple sclerosis. These moments are portrayed with a delicate gaze, highlighting Nonna Pupa's resilience and unwavering love. A particularly poignant scene features Nonna Pupa reading the poem Yes, but… by Lake Como. Her perfect composure, levity, and heartfelt recitation provide a therapeutic and reflective experience for its viewers. The poem’s contemplative verses encapsulate the themes of acceptance and dreaming, resonating deeply within the context of Nonna Pupa’s life story.
Pupa's Garden is a brief yet profound film, offering a touching exploration of family, memory, and the quiet strength of an extraordinary woman. Through the lens of Frati, we are given the privilege to witness and appreciate the small, beautiful, and significant moments that make up the tapestry of a great woman's life.
Sofia Bohdanowicz
Filmmaker
Presented in collaboration with
