Filmmaker Francesca Mazzoleni captures the beauty of a tiny community with a short but turbulent history and an uncertain future. In the process she making it completely fathomable as to why the people of Ostia are fighting to keep their humble, makeshift houses on the banks of the Tiber.
Ostia consists of a few hundred such domiciles on the land’s end south of Rome, where the river Tiber meets the sea. A place where, incidentally, Pier Paolo Pasolini’s body was found, washed ashore. In the sixties, people started building houses on this sandy land, without permission but with a great sense of solidarity.
Mazzoleni immediately draws you into the beautiful scenery of the place, with drone footage, which marks each of the seven chapters of the film. The camera calmly registers the ever present sea, respected, feared and loved by all who live there. It shows, without a sense of voyeurism, the flimsy looking buildings, the unpaved paths and the messy gardens.
But the main focus is on the women in the community, a strong sisterhood which forms the backbone of Ostia. Mazzoleni builds their portraits by following them into their homes, where they go about their business. The rooms we enter are buzzing with life, laughter and unexpected discussions about communism and fascism.
Franca turns out to be a bit of a leader. This grandmother is at the forefront of the fight against evictions, on the grounds that the houses are not fit to live in and the place itself is too dangerous, because of the threat of tidal waves. But Franca is focusing on a sustainable future, and is trying to get necessary services to the village. Because Ostia may not be perfect, but is home to those who live there.
Punta Sacra breaths the unconditional love of the people for this barren land. The young generation, apart from one obstinate teenager, has no intention of ever leaving the place where they were born. Mazzoleni underlines their deep sense of connection to the place by filming them against a spectacular, lyrical sunset. It evokes feelings of longing and melancholy to a place that soon might not exist anymore.
The atmosphere of the place, the feeling of impending loss and the strong sense of determination is further heightened by the diverse soundtrack. It is both vulnerable and strong, subtle and grand and always in perfect harmony with the images. A refreshing note is delivered by a rap, composed and performed by the Chilean-Italian rapper Chicky Realeza, who riffs and rhymes about life in Punta Sacra. He is one of the few men that are depicted in the film, and, like his fellow inhabitants, demonstrates profundity in everything he says and raps.
Punta Sacra is a beautiful love letter to its people and their will to preserve a treasure much greater than any money can buy – the richness of being part of caring community set in idyllic and fairy-tale like surroundings.
Italy. 97 min
Director: Francesca Mazzoleni
Production: Alessandro Greco for Morel Film
Cinematography: Emanuele Pasquet
Editing: Elisabetta Abrami
World Sales: True Colours – Glorious Films
