What better conjures up the summer spirit than a trip through the scenic Italian landscape? There aren’t many contenders in this category, especially when Devin Scott’s Aunt Cindy and The Alchemist are on hand to transport viewers to that very adventure. An ordinary family, gorgeous scenery, and a golden convertible ’66 Mustang make up the bulk of this journey, but the lives of those partaking in this excursion change in ways nobody could ever predict.
Raised in the U.S. with heritage in Croatia, the beautiful Elena’s son and husband live what many might consider the perfect life. Years pass without incident, but something unexpected surfaces during a hot summer in Italy, forever changing the dynamic between the three.
Scott’s short invites its audience on a tour of charming towns and stunning landscapes, prominently featuring the titular Alchemist on the road. The film can sometimes find itself at odds with what it wants to be, leisurely with its pacing, and consequently occupies a fascinating position in terms of its genre. Although the 8mm footage frames like a documentary, its subject matter exudes a spontaneous warmth only found in family home movies. Sometimes this balance is achieved seamlessly, but occasionally it does leave too much room for uncertainty. Yet the story’s spirit transcends to other aspects, namely Casey Campbell’s narration, which is both articulate and often playful in a manner that makes each sentence essential to understanding the plot.
At the core of it all is a revelation that gradually finds its way to your heart. In the classic case of setup and payoff, Aunt Cindy and The Alchemist is a fine example of how malleable audience perception can be in the best of ways.
