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BELOW SEA LEVEL
Italy/USA, 2008
115 minutes
directed by: Gianfranco Rosi
In the middle of Californian desert, forty metres below the sea level, on the site
of a deserted military base and 250 kilometres northeast fom Los Angeles - a group of people is living
outside the highly developed world, without electricity, without running water, without the police,
without the governement. The surreal scenery resembles the Mad Max films, abandoned buses and cars are
inhabited by colorful characters – rebels, losers, prophets, poets, rockers. Each of them lives on his
own idea and his own rules. Although living in extreme conditions, they do what other people do – they sew,
read, make love and dream their dreams. Everything looks apocalytpic, but they transmit the feeling of
warmth and home. Gianfranco Rosi followed the lives of some of these people during the period of four
years, succeeding to establish extremely direct, deep and discrete relationship. Images of dawn in
the desert colour the atmosphere of the fim with excitement and warmth. The winner of the programme
„Horizons” at the Venice film festival 2008 and the best Italian documentary that year! Postapocalyptic
image of America without television and computers.
SELECTOR'S WORD: „This is the ultimate proof of how important it is to stay with your
characters for a long time (in this case more than a few years) to gain trust and credibility. And then it is
a great plus that Rosi is an excellent filmmaker. Time and craftsmanship and vision.”
Gianfranco Rosi
Born in Asmara, Eritrea. Lived in Istanbul, New York, Rome and Los Angeles.
Attended Univerity in Italy and graduated at New York University Film School. Works as director,
director of photography and as creative dubbing supervisor for Universal, Fox, Paramaunt and Dreamworks.
Guest lecturer at New York University Film School.
Selected filmography
BELOW SEA LEVEL, 2008
EL SICARIO - in progess
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