Faced with hardship, Santino must contend with relentless bad luck before the opportunity of his lifetime slips away.
THE STORY
Set in an Italian-American community, 'malocchio' is a dark comedy about Santino, a struggling comic book illustrator trying to live up to his late grandfather's legendary status as a titan artist in the industry. His marriage is broken, and life isn't going as planned. His mother, Carmela, believes he's cursed with the malocchio. She suspects his ex-wife, Calliope, to be the culprit.
His best friend recommends him as lead illustrator at a comic studio — the job of his dreams. As he prepares to prove himself and live up to his grandfather's legacy, his mother does what she knows best to rid him of the malocchio, while Santino learns the value of perseverance in spite of adversity.
This narrative explores self-discovery and the power to shape one's destiny, whether or not malevolent forces are at play.
THE LOOK
Religious icons are juxtaposed against childhood drawings of superheroes.
THE CORNO
An amulet, meant to ward off the "evil eye", bearing a resemblance to a chili pepper. This will be a motif throughout the story.