Under sail, just like Ulysses, in search of the heart of Europe, a continent which had an identity which began where Asia ends. It is the documentary realized by director from Reggio Emilia Alessandro Scillitani together with writer and traveller Paolo Rumiz, and historian and skipper Piero Tassinari. A travel from Beirut to Istanbul, from Rhodes to Kos, from Mykonos to Syme and from Syros to Athens, walking the fine line between the origins of a civilization which seems to be rapidly disintegrating, as present-day concerns. All set to the backdrop of the migrant tragedy, with fears of Brexit looming on the horizon, tensions in the Muslim world in the East, and the hordes of ambushed tourists. Ultimately, the mystery of what Europe actually is, appears to have remained intact. Leaving us to reflect upon the words of Euterpe, the manager of a restaurant behind the citadel of Rhodes: “Europe is everywhere and nowhere”.

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I met Piero Tassinari a few years ago, at Paolo Rumiz’s house. We talked about sea journeys, lighthouses, lost wonders. Then, one day, Piero wrote me he had an idea. He -who had gone from Trieste to the Wales to live there, felt the need to tell his students what Europe is, what they would lose once Brexit was completed. He wrote me «I have a story on my mind, but I have to do it soon. I've got my chemotherapy back and I've got two to three weeks to do that». I realized that I had to choose very soon, so I decided to take part in that project. So, we left, aboard the legendary Moya, and Paolo Rumiz too was with us in the crew. As usual, I tried to make myself invisible, first of all I wanted to tell what was happening on that boat, symbolically turned into the bull that brings Europe. I took care of the filming by entrusting myself to a GH4 and a gimbal, which would allow me to move easily on the boat and in the meeting places, in the various islands that we have reached. I was enchanted to collect Piero's stories, tales and ideas. And then, without censorship, I collected the words of the people. Almost no one, unfortunately, can evoke the myth. Everyone, in front of the word Europe, speaks of banks, of Germany, of fears. So the story took place between magic and disenchantment. But then, as often happens, something unexpected happened. Back on the plane, at the end of the journey, a child, sitting right in front of us, was reading a small book of the Myth of Europe. And so, I hope the dream of Europe could travel through the ancient words spoken by the voice of a child, and through Piero’s precious words, his delicate message, full of knowledge and beauty.

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Alla Ricerca di Europa opens the 4^th "Italia in doc - Italian documentary film festival", organized by the Italian Cultural Institute in Brussels.
Paolo Rumiz and Alessandro Scillitani will attend.
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