Il Parco Della Speranza
Concorso italiano – New talent opera prima
Synopsis:
“Il parco della speranza” is a documentary film that explores the world of psychiatry in Ticino through the story of the director, who grew up next to the Psychiatric Clinic in Mendrisio as a child. The feature film starts from the childhood memories of the director, who lived near the border of the clinic, where his family tended the farmland surrounding the park. The documentary is enriched with vintage images and current testimonies of nurses, psychiatrists, operators and patients, offering an in-depth look at the transformations that have taken place from the 1970s to today.
Director’s Notes:
“I grew up around the asylum. I’ve known the “crazies” since I was little. I was 4 or 5 years old, and when they worked in the fields near our farm, they’d secretly call me to fetch cigarettes or a beer. The documentary starts from my childhood memories, then enriches itself with period images blending with the present and featuring contributions from nurses, psychiatrists, personalities, staff, and of course, patients.