Marco Piccarreda

Licu is born in Bangladesh and he's a 27 years old muslim living in Rome, in a rented house with eigth other people. He works in a warehouse in the morning and in a deli shop at night: 12 hours a day. One day he receives a photo from his family of the spouse they choose for him, so he must take four weeks of unpaid holidays to get back in Bangladesh and set up his marriage with a girl he doesn't know. But in his country things are about to get complicated.

The “CittàGiardino” centre for immigrants is closing. There are only six teenagers left in the house. They have all arrived from Africa, walking through the desert, or risking their lives by boat across the sea. Now they are there stuck in the Sicilian hinterland, waiting desperately for a visa that might not come at all or a transfer directive. Thus, the days begin to look all the same. Sleeping, eating, and toying endlessly with their smartphones hoping that something might happen in one way or another. And the feeling of being like a trapped animal or a prisoner grows increasingly stronger. But Sahid does not like to wait anymore, idling around, while time slows down excruciatingly. With the help of his friend Farouq he plots an escape plan.

An old and innocent peasant woman's shaky path towards saintliness turns into a tortuous journey through a pagan, animist world. This tragicomic parable mingles different registers, weaving together biblical, vulgar, fairy tale and literary references, attempting to strike an impossible balance between holiness and blasphemy, faith and cynicism.

In the heart of the Mediterranean, the song of cicadas barely covers the noise of cars and summer hits. In this landscape lulled by sunshine and routine, a grandmother attempts to make the most of every minute she still has to live with her grandson Ariele. Marco Piccarreda creates a film full of poetry and tenderness, on the pursuit of happiness.