The House by the Medlar Tree

(Malavoglia)

Director Pasquale Scimeca returns to his Sicilian birthplace to craft this film, based on the 19th century novel by Giovanni Verga (also the source material for Luchino Visconti's La terra trema), describing the stormtossed fortunes of three generations of a Sicilian family.

The Malavoglia are a family of fishermen: Grandfather Padron 'Ntoni, his son Bastianazzo and wife Maruzza, and their children 'Ntoni, Mena, Alessi and Lia. When the creaky old family boat needs rebuilding and the family borrow against their house, they must struggle against the odds to stay together and survive. But these are indefatigable people who remain dignified even in the face of disaster.

This remarkable drama has been applauded for its stunning Sicilian seascapes, its portrait of a vanishing world and its gripping timeless drama. This is a life-affirming story of contrasts – of how a deeply traditional culture reacts to a new way of life, and how a younger generation resists the way things have always been done.

Feature film will screen with English subtitles

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