Compagno orso
My bear companion
Italia / 2012 / 34 min / Colour
Italian premiere
The amateur footage shot by the shepherd Lorenzo tells a true story. Everything is proceeding normally, or so it seems, in the pastures of Malga Ghirlo, in the Adamello Brenta Park. The immense silence is broken only by bleating, the laboured breathing of the (sheep) dog, and by the news transmitted by a little radio that connects to the world in the valley below. The hours go by slowly for the shepherd who observes his flock, happy in his solitary state. His privileged gaze rests first on deer, mouflons, eagles and vultures before shifting to the rich meadows of the mountain that embraces him and has nurtured him for many years. Out of nowhere, something breaks this silence. New players watch his sheep, gaining courage: the bears. Compagno orso is the story of the historically conflictual relationship between shepherds and predators, but also testimony of a true love for the mountains, without romanticism, and of a great curiosity about nature. Finally, it is the story of solidarity between rivals, both victims of political decisions over which they have no power. The epilogue denounces the danger of losing the human supervision that guarantees the proper management of the territory.
Credits
Language Italian Cinematography Lorenzo Froner, Matteo Froner, Valentina De MarchiEditing Valentina De MarchiMusic Michele SambinProduction company Valentina De Marchi