Punta Sacra

Nobody wants to leave Ostia, a small Italian village at the mouth of the Tiber. Everyone who appears in this poetic documentary—apart from the odd recalcitrant teenager—feels a connection to this place, where once the body of Pasolini was found. They have either lived there all their lives or were able to quickly feel at home, as does the Chilean rapper Chicky Realeza, whose songs are clearly inspired by this captivating and sometimes eerie place. But now the illegally built houses which are home to some 500 families are being threatened with destruction.

Francesca Mazzoleni focuses on the women of the community, who emanate strength, resilience, intelligence, courage, and love for each other and their country. It appears that the filmmaker had unlimited access: she films discussions, intimate conversations between teenagers, a mother getting a tattoo while surrounded by her family, and preparations for one of the many festivities. She does so with tenderness and a keen eye for the beauty of the people and their surroundings, which she enhances by adding drone footage and atmospheric music.