Private Project

HORA - An Arbëreshë Story

Anastasia was born in San Nicola dell´Alto, a small village in Calabria of arbëreshë origin, where she spent her teenagehood. She has been living in Bolonia for more than 15 years. In the city her life runs quiet if it weren´t for that constant call from her own roots. Two worlds meet and confront each other in her mind daily: on one side the modern and visionary Bolonia on the other Hora ( the village), an atavistic place suspended in time. Each summer she faces her long train journey to get home. crossing Italy from North to South, between changes, coincidences and conversations, almost like a sacred ritual towards her own land. This time Anastasia decides to share her journey with a friend. An unexpected adventure begins that will lead her to her inside world as well as the discovery of the mosaic of cultures which contradicts her.

  • Graziana Saccente
    Director
  • Maria Alba
    Director
  • Maria Alba
    Writer
  • Graziana Saccente
    Writer
  • Stefano Benni
    Producer
  • Anastasia Maccarrone
    Key Cast
    "Anastasia"
  • Matteo Catacchio
    Cinematography
  • Claudio D'Elia
    Editing
  • Cristian Rizzuti
    Editing Supervision
  • Alice Lorenzon
    Color Correction
  • Roberto Latini
    Sound Design
  • Paul Andrew Jarvis
    Subtitled
  • BGKO - BARCELONA GISPY BALKAN ORCHESTRA
    Soundtrack
  • RED B.P.M
    Original Music
  • Giovanni Cristino & Giuseppe Pascucci
    Original Music
  • Loscil
    Original Music
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    HORA - Una Storia Arbëreshë
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    ethnic minority, road trip, biographical
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes 36 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 1, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    Italy
  • Country of Filming:
    Italy
  • Language:
    Italian
  • Shooting Format:
    HDV
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • XX Festival del Cinema Europeo
    Lecce
    Italy
    April 11, 2019
    Italian Premiere
    Puglia Show Selection
  • Giornate del Cinema Albanese - Casa del Cinema
    Roma
    Italy
    June 2, 2019
  • Sguardi Altrove Film Festival
    Milano
    Italy
    Frame Italia
  • Cala Film Fest
    Rende
    Italy
    June 27, 2019
    Short Film Selection
  • Sardinia Film Festival
    Villanova Monteleone
    Italy
    June 29, 2019
    Sardinia Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Mediterraneo Video Festival
    Ascea Velia
    Italy
    September 15, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Rassegna Evò Ce Esù
    Martignano
    Italy
    September 22, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Babel Film Festival
    Cagliari
    Italy
    December 2, 2019
    Documentary Film Selection
Distribution Information
  • Wolf Film
    Country: Italy
Director Biography - Graziana Saccente, Maria Alba

MARIA ALBA
Graduated at the Faculty of Visual and Multimedia Design at IUAV University of Venice, where she specialized in documentary film thanks to workshops and seminars with Professor Marco Bertozzi. Designer of Arbëreshë origin, she has constantly been studying this community through various media: from publishing projects in cinema and photography. She finished her specialization with a thesis focused on the identity and the representation of the Calabrian Arbëreshë communities, based on an analysis of RAI films to more recent project such as "Alba Suite".

Filmography:
- 2013, L'Isola di Attilio
- 2014, Senza Velo
- 2018, Hora

GRAZIANA SACCENTE
Visual designer, graduated at the Faculty of Visual and Multimedia Design at IUAV University of Venice. She finished her specialization with a thesis entitled “Mechanisms of censorship in film. Italy in the Sixties’. In 2015, she completed a Master’s in Creative Documentary at the UAB (Barcelona). Interested in new media and documentary film, during her career she has improved her skills in the field of landscape photography and observational cinema.

Filmography:
- 2014, Senza Velo
- 2015, Ciutat Meridiana
- 2018, Hora

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Arbëreshë arrived in Italy between the 15th and 18th centuries, fleeing from Albania as a result of the gradual expansion of the Ottoman Empire.

In Italy there are currently about 50 communities scattered through the part of the country extending from Abruzzo to Sicily. The Arbëreshë are still today the primary example of interculture in Italy.

Anastasia´s thoughts and emotions are the starting point for the search on the arbëreshë identity and on the deep change that this ancient community is going through.

Many questions emerge along the way: Who will guard the arbëreshë culture? Will it be in her hands? How will that sense of belonging to an ethnic-linguistic minority evolve, in a historic moment where globalization is taking over and only weak bonds exist?

This documentary shows a new point of view, much more intimate and deeper, on arbëreshë community and its modern evolution.