“Can a city awaken someone’s consciousness? If it’s Venice, anything can happen. The lagoon city is, for the whole world and perhaps even for Venetians themselves, a place of dreams, an allegory, a metaphor, an exotic destination from another time.”
This is the starting point for The Waiter, a new documentary film set in Venice, directed by Giulio Pettenó and written by Vincenzo Borsellino and Pettenó. A finalist at the 2023 Solinas Documentary Prize, this Italian-Swiss co-production explores personal growth, work, and art within the captivating and historically rich context of the Venetian lagoon.
Synopsis
Far from his home in Milan, Gabriele begins an internship as a waiter at Venice’s iconic Caffè Florian. As he adapts to the strict demands of the job, he reflects on the humanity around him, gradually realising his desire to tell stories through writing—something he’s done for some time but isn’t yet fully aware of. The customers he serves become models he can measure himself against, helping him confront the most difficult decision of all: deciding who he truly wants to be.
Watch the teaser: LINK
Themes
The Waiter addresses several contemporary themes, delicately portrayed against the Venetian backdrop. This coming-of-age story is set within the traditional Caffè Florian, a place of history that still serves as a hub of meetings, tradition, and inspiration. The social value of work and entering adulthood are reflected through questions that Venice elegantly answers.
“We’ll depict it as a dream, because that’s what our protagonist seeks—a ‘metaphysical’ vision to contrast the hard work at Caffè Florian,” says Giulio Pettenó, adding, “The Waiter is a hybrid project, blending reality and fiction, evolving through filming. Venice’s luxury and tradition serve not only as a setting but also as inspiration. The film draws ambition from works like Aftersun by Charlotte Wells and Atlantide by Yuri Ancarani, where the human figure is placed in relation to its surrounding space.”
Support the Project
As a Media Partner, Inside Venice supports The Waiter during its crowdfunding phase, promoting a project of great cultural significance and encouraging new narratives and visions of the city. The funds raised will cover the necessary expenses for the filming period, scheduled between October and November 2024, as well as the editing phase. Your support is crucial to ensuring that this project reaches its full potential.
Support the production: Crowdfunding Link
—–
The Waiter
Documentary Film | 90 minutes
Italian Producer: Gamera
Producer: Giacomo Carissimi
Director: Giulio Pettenó
Written by: Vincenzo Borsellino and Giulio Pettenó
Swiss Co-Producer: Central Productions
Co-Producer: Sara Buehring
Produced in collaboration with Caffè Florian
Supported by Fondazione Candido Speroni e Carla Fendi Speroni ETS
Support the production: Crowdfunding Link
