RESPIRO European Showcase

Shot on the sun-drenched Sicilian island of Lampedusa, RESPIRO does a superb job of capturing the everyday rhythms of a small fishing village and the tensions that threaten to tear apart a lively local family.

The ocean is the backdrop of this story of love and jealousy. The local fishermen eke out a meager living by taking their small dories out to fish everyday while their wives work in the local fish-packing factory. Gangs of bored young boys roam the streets aimlessly. There is little here to inspire them; they face a bleak future. Amid this visual paradise, a young wife, Grazia, begins to feel constrained by the repetitive and predictable nature of her life. Although she is devoted to her three children, Grazia feels there is more to life than what she is being offered.

Valerio Golino dominates this film in the central role, and director Emanuele Criolese does on admirable job supporting her. He passionate eye to her dilemma and identifies with her struggle, balancing this against the customs of a tight-knit community that has been forced together to survive.