Masquerade (2014)
A dystopian short film set in Venice, where one man's defiance against a brutal regime is fuelled by love and conscience.
Masquerade - Movie Information
Masquerade - Plot
Cesare quit his job as head of the special department in charge of integrating the Returnees into society. He quit because he didn't agree any longer with their policy of treating those creatures like slaves. Cesare stands up for their life, when the Doge of Venice decides to destroy them when it became politically convenient. Cesare's determination doesn't only lay in protecting human rights. He believes that they can still feel emotion and, possibly one day, talk. His dear Amanda was turned into a Returnee few years ago, but Cesare always refused treating her like a dog with rabies. When the Doge is about to press the button that will annihilate every Returnee in Venice, Cesare will interfere.
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Masquerade - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Alessandro Repetti
Main Cast
- Marco Canadea
- Francesca Bruni
- Gino Picciano
- Emma Repetti
- Massimo Tentori
- Stuart Whittaker
- Mauro Repetti
- Brett Sayer
- Angus Medford
- Giorgio Nicoletti
Masquerade - FAQs
What is Masquerade (2014) about?
Masquerade is set in a dystopian Venice where human-like beings called Returnees are treated as slaves. Cesare, a former government official, defies the ruling Doge to protect them — driven not just by principle, but by love for Amanda, his wife who was transformed into a Returnee.
Who are the Returnees in Masquerade?
The Returnees are a central mystery of the film — human beings who have undergone some kind of transformation, leaving them muzzled and treated as subhuman by the state. Cesare believes they still feel emotion and may one day regain the ability to speak, making their extermination a profound moral injustice.
Does Masquerade have a happy ending?
The film builds to a tense confrontation as Cesare races to stop the Doge from pressing the button that would annihilate every Returnee in Venice. Whether his intervention succeeds — and what it costs him — is at the emotional heart of this short film's climax.
Where can you watch Masquerade (2014)?
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Who directed Masquerade (2014)?
Masquerade was directed by Alessandro Repetti, who also served as editor and appears on screen in a small role as a businessman. It's a notably personal project — his daughter Emma Repetti plays Amanda, and his son Mauro Repetti portrays the Assaulting Beast.
Who are the main actors in Masquerade?
The cast is led by Marco Canadea as the principled Cesare and Francesca Bruni as Giulia. Gino Picciano plays the authoritarian Doge, while Emma Repetti portrays Amanda, the transformed wife at the center of Cesare's emotional journey. Stuart Whittaker, Massimo Tentori, and others round out the ensemble.
How long is the short film Masquerade?
Masquerade runs just 17 minutes — a tight, purposeful runtime that packs a full dystopian world, a political conflict, and a deeply personal love story into a remarkably compact narrative. It's a short film that punches well above its running time.
What are some films similar to Masquerade (2014)?
If Masquerade's blend of sci-fi, horror, and social allegory appeals to you, you might enjoy 2073 (2024), Cosmos (2019), or the classic X: The Unknown (1956). Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers (2002) and Return from Witch Mountain (1978) also share its genre-blending spirit.
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