A journey through images, words and testimonies to tell the story of migration from the perspective of a denied childhood. A video project that weaves together stories, poems and photographs to give voice to those whom the sea has swallowed, those who have lost everything and those who continue to dream of a possible future.
Created during the 2020 lockdown, the video is a work of denunciation and reflection on the tragedy of migration. Through readings, images and testimonies, the project recounts the broken lives of men, women and children forced to flee.
The stories from Martina Castigliani’s book bring to the stage the everyday life in refugee camps: Yassim, who fries falafel in a makeshift restaurant, a man who had to abandon his bookstore to escape the war, a young professor from Aleppo who teaches English to children in the camp. Suspended lives, broken dreams, attempts to rebuild an existence amid the rubble of the present.
The words of Khaled Hosseini’s “Prayer of the Sea” add an intense emotional dimension: the dialogue between a father and son, waiting for the crossing to an uncertain fate, pays tribute to the memory of little Aylan Kurdi, whose image shook the world in 2015.
“Cercavo la fine del mare” crosses the boundaries of traditional theater, addressing issues of inclusion, intercultural dialogue and social denunciation, staying true to Sanguemisto’s artistic mission.
Style and languages
The video is developed as a visual and sound narrative:
- Readings and Interpretations: Rodolfo Vezzosi and Yuri Vezzosi give voice to the “Prayer of the Sea,” alternating in the roles of Father and Son.
- Images and video: Everyday scenes of life are interwoven with dramatic accounts of war, destruction, flight and shipwreck.
- Music and editing: The language of cinema combines with that of theater, with a visual rhythm that alternates between intimate and poignant moments and images of social denunciation.
Distribution and availability
Publication date: December 29, 2020
Event: “Florentine Winter 2020” – City of Florence
Available online
Credits
Video Editing: Filippo Belperio
Concept and Direction: Rodolfo Vezzosi
With: Lisa Boni, Arianna Fiore, Sara Verteramo, Yuri Vezzosi, Rodolfo Vezzosi
Sources and Materials:
- Book “I was looking for the end of the sea” by Martina Castigliani (Ed. Mimesis)
- Reportage “The Hell of the Living” by Martina Castigliani for Il Fatto Quotidiano
- “Prayer of the Sea” by Khaled Hosseini
Duration: 28 min 40 sec
Produced for: “Florentine Winter 2020,” online December 29, 2020
With the contribution of: City of Florence – Department of Culture