Mediterranea
Introduction by Thomas Simpson (Department of French & Italian)
(Jonas Carpignano, 2015, Italy/France/USA/Germany/Qatar, DCP, 107 min.)
Jonas Carpignano’s striking feature-film début follows two friends from Burkina Faso who cross the Sahara, and then the Mediterranean, in search of opportunity and a better life in Italy. Ayiva and Abas soon discover that things will not be easy in their new home: poor living conditions, exploitative work, and prejudice towards immigrants are the rule. Carpignano’s handheld camerawork and close framing capture the confusion the men experience in this strange land. Mediterranea is a stark look at the gulf between hope and reality. Many of the scenes are adapted from experiences of real-life immigrant Koudous Seihon, who gives a standout performance as Ayiva.
5:30 p.m.: Reception
6:00 p.m.: Film Screening