Trifole

In this bittersweet portrait of a vanishing rural way of life, 28-year-old Dalia leaves London to check up on her ageing grandfather Igor, an expert truffle hunter in the picturesque but isolated Italian region of Piedmont. At first Igor can barely hide his resentment towards Dalia’s intrusion, and the two struggle to find common ground about anything other than Igor’s adorable truffle-hunting dog, Birba. This is until Dalia discovers that Igor is behind on his mortgage payments and sets out into the woods with Birba in tow to find a rare and valuable truffle in the hopes of saving the family home. What ensues is a visually spectacular journey into the rarely seen Piedmont forest, where Dalia and Birba have to contend with rival truffle hunters, the dangers of the forest, and the shady agricultural industry in order to find the legendary lightning-struck truffle. A touching story about intergenerational connection and the passing down of traditions and knowledge, with a scene-stealing performance from Birba the dog (who made its big screen debut in The Truffle Hunters), Gabriele Fabbro’s second feature film is a must for lovers of Italy, food, and dogs.