In ‘Trifole,’ the age-old hunt continues — for truffles and intergenerational bonding

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Watching “Trifole” feels like falling in love with the Langhe region of northern Italy. This beautiful, rural area of Piedmont is known for its farms, cheeses, and wine, and it feels wonderfully untouched by modern life – like a preserved piece of the past. The film centers around a traditional truffle hunter, his granddaughter, and a way of life that’s slowly disappearing, but it’s the stunning scenery of the Langhe that truly captivates, more so than the story itself.

“Trifole” feels like a simple, classic story. It centers on Dalia, a woman in her late 20s, who travels to visit her grandfather, Igor. She’s hesitant about the trip, but her mother, Marta, convinces her to go check on him. Marta worries that Igor’s worsening memory might mean he can no longer live on his own in his old, decaying house and may need to move into a care facility. When Igor initially mistakes Dalia for her mother, it confirms Marta’s fears.

Igor enjoys a peaceful life in his secluded haven with his dog, Birba, who helps him find truffles. He’s disappointed, however, that his granddaughter, Dalia, has turned her back on her Italian heritage for life in the city. Dalia struggles with the language, and when she offers to help with the truffle hunt, Igor believes she lacks the natural talent and tough hands needed. But Igor is perceptive – he realizes Dalia is also struggling emotionally, as her dream of becoming a writer hasn’t worked out. They’re both facing uncertain futures, unsure of what’s next.

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The creators of “Trifole,” Turk and Fabbro, thoroughly researched the area where the film is set, weaving the stories of local people into the plot. They emphasize that even the most fantastical elements of the story are based on real accounts they gathered – including a character named Igor and a truffle-hunting dog named Birba, mirroring the subjects of the 2020 documentary “The Truffle Hunters.” The film is, at its heart, a bittersweet tribute to the Langhe region, which is facing threats from climate change and development that endanger the traditional practice of truffle hunting. The fading memory of the character Igor serves as a clear symbol of this tradition losing touch with its roots, as truffles have become increasingly popular and commercialized.

At the beginning, the story of “Trifole” is fairly simple, setting up a classic disagreement between Dalia and her father, Igor, who live together but constantly clash. When Dalia tries to admire his farm, he dismissively compares it to the land of his youth. The situation worsens when Dalia learns he’s deeply in debt and facing foreclosure. His only chance for salvation lies in finding a rare and expensive white truffle, but he’s too weak to search for it himself. That means Dalia, with the help of Birba, must embark on the hunt.

The movie explores simple, relatable themes. Dalia, though living in London, is unhappy, and a wise character named Igor quickly figures out why: she lacks passion. He warns her this will cause problems. Her quest to find a rare white truffle then becomes a journey to discover meaning in her life and a deeper appreciation for her grandfather. The actress playing Dalia portrays her as insecure and reserved, making her ideal for a transformative adventure in the forest, where she’ll experience magical events and, symbolically, be reborn.

I was really drawn into Fabbro’s latest film, especially how he contrasts the peaceful simplicity of Igor’s life with the loud, business-driven world of modern truffle auctions. It’s a beautiful tribute to older ways of life, though I did feel it fell a little short in how it portrayed the characters. Orsini, who you might remember from “The Damned,” is absolutely captivating – he brings such a delicate strength to his role. However, I think Igor ended up being more of an idea than a fully fleshed-out person, and unfortunately, that also meant Dalia felt a bit one-dimensional, like she simply represented a younger generation disconnected from the past.

Fabbro’s film, “Trifole,” truly captures the beauty and importance of a vanishing culture when his camera focuses on the vast landscapes and skies of the Langhe region. It evokes a sense of connection to the land—the very soil of Igor’s childhood—and the unique world he holds in his memory.

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2025-11-15 01:31