Eric Scaltriti, Ph.D. candidate in Italian Studies, created a video-essay titled "Visuality and Migration: Two Crises in Gianfranco Rosi’s Documentary 'Fire at Sea'."

Introduction from the Creator's Statement:

This project began with two images of Fire at Sea (Fuocoammare, 2016): two close-ups of migrants looking back, breaking the fourth wall, directly into the camera. They do not fit with the metaphoric narrative about the lazy eye of the young Italian protagonist, Samuele. They complicate the relationship of the viewer with the film, reversing the direction of the gaze. To what extent do these close-ups interrupt the documentary narrative? Can moving images narrate the migration phenomena without stereotyping it? Italian films have tackled this question seriously, exploring narratives and experimenting with new audiovisual solutions to answer this question. Well received in the international network of film festivals, Fire at Sea has largely been considered by critics and scholars as being able to contrast the media stereotypes on migration and narrate “the migration crisis” from a humanitarian point of view. However, is it the case?

View the video-essay along with the creator's statement and reviews.