Sailing Home

Colour, 35mm
Italy, 2001, 88 min
Section: Horizons - Awarded Films

Synopsis

Life is tough for a Neapolitan fisherman living in Sicily. In the hope of a bigger catch, Captain Salvatore changes course and sends his fishing boat up towards African territorial waters. When they manage to avoid the intervention of the maritime police at the last minute, the crew defy the captain and force him to return to the Neapolitan bay. The youngest of them, Franco, wants to leave for America with his fiancée Rosa, and Salvatore is determined to settle his accounts with the local Mafia who are incensed that the boat has returned. A stranger accidentally causes Rosa’s death and Franco can’t see any reason to carry on. Life, however, has a surprise in store for him and offers him the chance to start again, perhaps with a different, unforeseen identity. Vincenzo Marra’s debut was a hit at Venice last year where it won the International Critics’ Week Award.

About the director

Vincenzo Marra (1972, Naples) grew up in Rome but maintained close ties with his native city. He debuted in 1998 with the short films Una rosa prego and La vestizione. He worked in theatre and film as an assistant to directors Mario Martone and Mark Bechis, and in 2001 made the documentary Estranei alla massa about Neapolitan football fans.