“Retirement is not on my mind, and I find joy in continuing to work and create new stories.” This is what the 82-year-old maestro Marco Bellocchio says. The first chapter of his comedy short film series May I Say? Chapter 1, first released in 2021, begins with 50-year-old Fausto returning to his hometown of Bobbio after his mother’s death. Fausto, who often approaches strangers with somewhat rude advice, always starts with, “May I say?” This reflects the director’s own critical and comic observation of Italian society. The second chapter, introduced today, takes place three years after his mother’s death. Fausto, who still lives in his mother’s house, has no intention of working. Several people visit him one after the other, encouraging him to sell the house. Fausto responds to these hypocritical visitors without being aggressive, stating that he will not change his way of life. This amusing and refreshing short film series clearly reflects Bellocchio’s pursuit of complete independence, much like the characters in his own films, with no concern for honor. (SEO Seunghee)