Description:

In the small Sicilian town Siculiana, a statue of a black Jesus has been venerated for centuries. In May, the crucifix is carried in procession through the crowded streets. The Siculianesi, themselves a population of emigrants, have to deal with the exodus of young people and lack of a workforce. One answer to the town's problems could be the migrants. Their willingness to undertake any honest work could revive the town’s fate. But their status as asylum seekers makes it impossible for them to work. Edward from Ghana decides to challenge the local’s indifference and fear and asks them to participate as carrier of the crucifix. His personal battle is the central column of the film, a dramaturgical trunk from which characters and stories branch out and intertwine, creating a multi-layered portrayal of a divided community.

Biography:

Luca Lucchesi was born in Palermo. After obtaining a BA in Law (with his final dissertation on Justice as Storytelling), he decided to combine his passion for justice and stories into filmmaking. Since 2009 he has been assisting German director Wim Wenders on several projects as 1st AD, editor and cinematographer. Bachelor Party, a short documentary about love produced during a train-journey throughout Europe, has been officially presented at Cannes Critics’ Week as part of the collective documentary project Istanbul Express. In 2011, he received a Fellowship from Nipkow Programm Berlin and was invited to the Generation Campus Documentary Lab in St. Petersburg and Moscow. From 2007-2017 he accompanied director Hella Wenders as creative producer and cinematographer in the production of the two documentaries Berg Fidel and School, School – The Time After Berg Fidel. He lives in Berlin where he works as freelance director, editor, and cinematographer for feature films, documentaries, video installations, and commercials.