Genre: A romantic film/story.
Setting: Italy.
Characters:
Suchin, a carefree tourist who insists that her purpose for going to Italy is to experience the Carnivale. The real purpose? To try and forget the pain of a former love.
Non, an Italian Studies major at the American University of Rome whose final project/thesis is a photo essay on Italy. He lives with his father (his mother Dara died when he was 5, doing a humanitarian project in Africa when rebels captured the tribe she was helping)
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Capitolo Uno - Venezia
Chapter One – Venice
2 weeks before Ash Wednesday, it is Carnivale di Venezia - Carnival of Venice.
At the height of the Carnivale, Non is taking photos as the masked men and women traverse the streets of Venice. He revels at the colors and the elaborate costumes. A flash of gold catches his eye. Seemingly alone in the middle of the revelers is a girl in a black gown with gold brocade and details. He snaps a photo. They meet eyes, and he feels a pang of passion light up within him. Suddenly the girl runs out of the chaos and into an alley. Non follows her, with a fervent desire to find her, his mystery girl with the lovely almond eyes that seemed to pierce through his own.
The girl runs through bridges, streets, alleys.. until she finds a dead end with nowhere to go. Non catches up to her, and sees her against the wall, her hands trembling. He goes up to her slowly and calmly and in his mellow voice filled the secluded alley..
"All I wanted was a photo. I didn't mean to scare you.."
The girl looked at him, curious, as if searching for something. She removed her mask, and held it with gloved hands.
"Oh.. I see. I'm sorry for running. I thought you were.."
"..a bad man?"
said Non as he finished her sentence.
"Yes, sir.."
she replied with a bowed head.
"Well.. Can we start over? Hi. My name is Non, and I'm here taking photos for my project at the American University of Rome. I'm an Italian Studies major, and I've always wanted to go to Carnivale.."
The girl replied, the shakiness in her voice abating,
"Hello, Non. I'm Suchin. I came here a few days ago, and my purpose for being here is to experience Carnivale.."
The boy and the girl's conversation carries on, and Suchin even forgets to return to participate in the festivites. They walk along the less crowded streets, talking about everything that came to their minds. From the mundane happiness of ice cream to pondering on life's mysteries, the day seems to breeze by. From traversing the Rialto Bridge to tea and cakes at the Caffé Florian, the two seemed as if they knew each other from the very start..
..and it all started with boy's glance into a girl's eyes in the middle of Carnivale.