La Fameuse Invasion des ours en Sicile
Directed by
In the distant past of legends and fairy tales, bears lived peacefully in the mountains of Sicily. One day, in an attempt to find his long-lost son and survive the harshness of a terrible winter, Leonzio, the Great King of the Bears, decides to lead his people from the mountains to the plains, inhabited by humans. Thanks to his army and the help of a magician, he manages to defeat the evil Grand Duke and finally find his son Tonio. Peace, however, brings the two species to coexist, transforming the bears into a replica of human vices. A bitter and warning epilogue will push King Leonzio to send his people back to the mountains forever.
The film is based on the novel of the same name written and illustrated by Dino Buzzati in 1945 and premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
«This film was born from the desire to create stories that draw on legends, originating in fantasy, and yet, at the same time, belong to our tradition. I had read Buzzati's story in my youth and loved it. When I revisited it a few years ago, I found it rich in fantastic situations, stories, and characters. A concentration of adventure and inspiration. It is a modern fairy tale, populated by characters who are neither entirely good nor entirely evil, touching on important themes such as the loss of identity, the complex father-son relationship, the contrast between nature and civilization, and the senselessness of war.
I have always loved Buzzati, even as an illustrator. In the film adaptation of L'invasione, I tried to create the right atmosphere; I sought poetry. I hope this film will captivate audiences of all ages and introduce Buzzati's wonderful work to today's children».
Biodiversity
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