ITALY

AFTER THE BRIDGE

2023 – DCP – color – 64’

Direction: Davide Rizzo, Marzia Toscano

Screenplay: Davide Rizzo, Marzia Toscano

Cinematography: Andrea Vaccari

Editing: Corrado Iuvara

Musics: Marco Biscarini, Alessio Vanni

Sound: Alessandro Gaffuri

With: Valeria Collina

Producers: Adam Selo, Olga Torrico

Production: Sayonara Film in cooperation with Rai Documentari, Al Jazeera

synopsis

Valeria Collina, an Italian woman converted to Islam, has returned to live in Italy after spending 20 years in Morocco. In June 2017, her life was turned upside down by the death of her young son Youssef, a member of the jihadist commando responsible for the death of eight people on London Bridge. Some twenty-four hours later, Valria’s small home in the hills of Bologna was invaded by journalists from all over the world. Valeria publicly condemned her son’s actions and decided not to attend his funeral. After the confusion of those days, Valeria found herself alone in the quiet of her home, trying to put her life back together.

director’s statement

“A girl on a swing is swaying against the light in a super 8mm film from the 1960s. The girl is laughing. She is Valeria Collina. That same woman is now kneeling in a house in the hills, praying. Within this arc of time, between these two women, visually, is our film. In the film, present-day life and memories alternate: the viewer on the one hand will follow the milestones of Valeria’s life, while on the other hand will be confronted with the present-day journey of a grieving mother grappling with a new phase of her life after the tragic death of a son. The camera, precise yet never invasive, will present Valeria’s daily life by faithfully observing her days while trying to capture her emotions and changes.”

awards

2023 Biografilm Festival: Best Film, Ucca Award, Audience Award

2023 Doker, Russian Federation:  Best Editing