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Castro (Castro)
In the San Giovanni quarter of Rome, families and individuals live in close community in an old, decaying school building with tall ceilings and light. They illegally occupy every nook and cranny of the space they call “Castro,” while celebrating birthdays, watching each other’s children, feeding the building’s cat (also named Castro), and sharing other small but precious events. Paolo Civati deftly directs this documentary about the everyday lives of a rich cast of characters, all of whom know that their beloved building is destined for closure. Roberto, in his 70s, frequently calls for the cat, who regards Roberto with the unresponsive eyes of a sphinx. Claudio, a muscular man under house arrest, and Deborah, who wears his tattoos, are in love. Francesco, an older man, shutters his windows and closes this chapter in his life as he prepares to move. Assunta and her son Luigi talk about sports and the ever-present subject of finding work. This graceful, award-winning documentary (Festival dei Popoli 2016 Best Italian Documentary Award), lovingly unfolds, weaving together the stories of the building’s inhabitants. There may be poverty here, but through the exquisite lens of cinematographer Valentina Summa, dignity, love, and beauty abound. –Nancy Fishman
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