From the opening shots of a procession through a mountain town, we enter into a lush, gorgeous landscape in the Italian Dolomites. Fourteen-year-old Domenico (Leonardo Mason) lives in the village with his father, aunt, and uncle. He’s at that age where he observes everything and carefully reads the expressions of his family and community, a tight-knit group of people with striking, craggy faces that match the cliffs of the surrounding mountains. Set in the 1950s, the narrative focuses on “the devil,” an enormous bear that terrorizes the inhabitants of the region, killing their precious livestock. Domenico’s father, Pietro (Marco Paolini), a surly man who drinks too much, overhears his boss talking about the marauding bear in the local bar. They make a bet: Pietro will kill the bear in exchange for a year’s worth of salary, but if he fails, he will have to work for free for a year. Domenico surreptitiously follows his father on the hunt; as the two climb higher and higher, their bond deepens while they track the animal. In the upper cliffs of the mountains, the topography becomes more surreal and beautiful and they become acutely aware that just as they watch the bear, the bear watches them. Winner, Best Cinematography, Italian Golden Globes. –
Nancy Fishman Winner, Best Cinematography, Italian Golden Globe and Best New Director, David di Donatello
Co-presented by
Istituto Italiano Scuola and
Italian Film Festival of Marin County.