Although this 1960 series is influenced – like A Silvia (1964) and Caroline Branson (1967) – by by Giacomelli’s contact with Luigi Crocenzi, the theorist of the photo-story, it is not a direct transposition of a poetic text into images. Instead, it is the true story of two lovers from Giacomelli’s village. With the couple’s permission, Giacomelli followed them over a long period of time at a close proximity, throughout their passionate, loving encounters, their joyful outpourings, right up until their sudden farewell, when the man leaves for the army (Giacomelli is present in this moment too, as he boards the train). When he returns from the army, they no longer meet as lovers. The light is often blinding, almost cruel.
