CANNES, France (AP) – It may be the most topical film at Cannes – but “Mediterranea” – a searing account of a desperate African migrant who travels by boat from Burkina Faso to Italy – is not just pulled from the headlines.
It’s been years in the making and is based on a true story.
First time director Jonas Carpignano – who’s half African-American, half-Italian – evoked the real-life experiences of his roommate and lead actor in the film, Koudous Seihon.
Seihon witnessed shootings, race riots, violence and faced near-constant discrimination after he took the perilous trip by foot, car, bus and boat to southern Italy as a 20-year-old father seeking to support his family.
Despite its small 1 million-euro ($1.1 million) budget, Carpignano’s film, which was screened at the Critics Week, has already garnered great attention for its highly personal portrayal of Europe’s great migrant crisis.