Fully shot via Zoom video calls during the pandemic, Nostalgia was born and produced from the lockdown. Alexen explains, “I was locked up and I felt I had to do something creative," so he got in touch with Guido, who also wanted to make a short film, and the idea was born. Featuring eight characters from different countries and backgrounds, the intention was “making a salad and mixing cultures and roots.” This way, the viewers could identify themselves with the protagonists.
Since most of the cast are content creators on Instagram, actors, or models, their real usernames appear while they log into the virtual game. We find them in the privacy of their bedrooms, probably still locked up due to the Covid-19 crisis, and it gives us the feeling that we are observing them from the other side of the screen.
A set of four instructions are stated. “Rule number one: don’t try to find out who you are.” or “Rule number three: don’t force the relationship with the other players.” As Guido Barbosch explains, “we are in such a strange moment that you start to wonder a little bit about everything,” especially regarding human relationships and our connection with others. “Our story revolves a little bit around that, the feelings you have for each other and how that affects our mood and day to day life.”