OLTREMARE

Persuaded by the fascist propaganda, men and women emigrate to the African colonies in search of fortune. Their personal stories are intertwined with the dramatic events of the great history, which emerges through the archive images.

In 1930s Italy, the small town of Borgo Tossignano, not far from Imola, saw some of its inhabitants emigrate to the colonies of the Italian Empire in Africa, driven by poverty and spirit of adventure. Convinced by Fascist propaganda, they went to take their promised land. The war on the other hand made them lose their colonies, eventually forcing them to shamefully return to Borgo. Their epic story is revealed to us through the words, the written memories and hundreds of photographs made by some of Borgo’s inhabitants. History unfolds in an intimate journey that offers us a story long kept silent.

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Federico Rossin – Film historian and critic, independent curator: he mainly deals with documentary, experimental and animation cinema. He has written essays published in numerous collective volumes and directed three monographic books. He has curated numerous retrospectives for film libraries, festivals and foundations in Europe (Filmmuseum in Vienna, Cinémathèque Française in Paris, Cinéma du réel in Paris, DocLisboa in Lisbon, etc; Feltrinelli Foundation in Milan). He lives, works and teaches in France.