Mar Nero

Black Sea

Elderly Gemma (Ilaria Occhini) is in poor health and has found herself alone after the death of her husband. Gemma lives in Florence, while her son Enrico(CorsoSalani) is in Trieste. He hires Angela (Dorotheea Petre), a woman from Romania, to look after Gemma. At first, Gemma makes no secret of the fact she doesn't trust Angela. But in time Gemma develops a genuine respect for Angela and her close relationship with her husband Adrian (Vlad Ivanov), who is still in Romania. After Angela doesn't hear from Adrian for two weeks, she's convinced that something is wrong. Gemma joins Angela as she goes back to Romania in search of Adrian. (Mark Deming)

Director's Biography
Federico Bondi
Born in 1975, Federico Bondi is a director, editor and screenwriter from Italy. He studied literature and philosophy in Florence. After completing several documentaries, his first feature film “Black Sea” (2008) premiered at Locarno Festival in competition, winning three awards: Best Actress for Ilaria Occhini, the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, and the Youth Jury Prize.

Film Selection: Educazione affettiva (2013, doc) — Mar nero (Black Sea, 2008)
 — L’uomo planetario. L’utopia di Ernesto Balducci (2005, doc) — La ruta del cafè (2004, doc)
 — Soste Japan (2002, mid-length  doc)   
Spotlight 2018
Federico Bondi
Italy / Romania / France 2008
color
95 minutes
Italian / Romanian
OV with English subtitles
Screenplay Federico Bondi, Ugo Chiti
Cinematography Gigi Martinucci
Editing Ilaria Fraioli
Music Enzo Casucci, Guy Klucevsek
With Ilaria Occhini, Dorotheea Petre, Corso Salani, Vlad Ivanov
Producer(s) Francesco Pamphili, Ada Solomon, Giorgia Priolo
Production
Film Kairos, Rai Cinema, HiFilm Productions, Manigolda Film
Weltpremiere / World Premiere
Locarno Festival 2008