Terraferma (2011)

Terraferma: Directed by Emanuele Crialese. With Filippo Pucillo, Donatella Finocchiaro, Giuseppe Fiorello, Mimmo Cuticchio. A Sicilian family deals with the arrival of a group of immigrants on their island.

“u0026quot;Terrafermau0026quot; has an awful lot of things going on in it. Set on the isle of Sicily off of Italyu0026#39;s southern coast, thereu0026#39;s a generational battle going on between a grandfather, his son and a grandson over the family fishing boat and business. Thereu0026#39;s a battle going on between the grandson and his mother over his future. Thereu0026#39;s a battle going on between the business/tourism faction of the island and the problem of illegal immigration. Thereu0026#39;s a battle between the Italian Coast Guard and the older generation of fishermen over the practice of the traditional u0026quot;Law of the Sea.u0026quot; Thereu0026#39;s a battle between the local police force (the carabinieri) and the fishermen.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAll these battles come together one fateful night when the grandfather adheres to tradition and refuses to leave African emmigrants in the water to drown. The ramifications of this act reverberate through all members of his family, even more so when he refuses to turn a pregnant woman over to the police and gives her shelter.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film focuses on the character of Filippo, the grandson torn between the generations. Respectful and almost adoring of his grandfather, his belief in him (and his grandfatheru0026#39;s beliefs) is challenged in the filmu0026#39;s most disturbing scene. He is given the chance to uphold the u0026quot;Law of the Seau0026quot; – and fails.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt sounds hackneyed to call u0026quot;Terrafermau0026quot; a u0026#39;coming of ageu0026#39; story. The difference here is that Filippo is not the only one coming of age. The grandfather, the son, the grandson, the mother and the nation itself are all coming of age – a new, global age with a whole new set of challenges. How do traditions survive in this age? With great difficulty, but by one person at a time.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ewww.worstshowontheweb.com”