Lato Terra
Lato Terra — “Land Side” — is Carmelo Stompo's journey between Sicily and Calabria, along the line of sea that both separates and joins the two shores, now at the centre of a decision that could change its face forever: the bridge over the Strait of Messina. The story unfolds in three chapters: before, during, and — should it happen — after. At the centre are not only places, but people — men and women who risk losing the house they grew up in, the land inherited from their parents. The bridge, championed as a symbol of progress, splits communities on both shores between those who hope for a better future and those who fear the price is too high: an irreversibly altered landscape, in one of the most seismically active areas in Italy. Stompo's camera moves between the ferries that still cross the strait daily, the marches under orange “No Ponte” banners, the riot police, and the quieter registers of everyday life.
