Pescherecci

The latest film about fishing in Sicily begins aboard a motorized fishing boat, whose noise, except when stopped in port, forms a continuum of sound, fused at times with short phrases from the men and mechanical creaks from the hull. “There are thousands of men aboard fishing boats that patrol, day and night, the vast area of ​​sea between Sicily and Africa. When a storm rages, they seek refuge on the island of Lampedusa”, explains a caption. On board, the men select the fish, divide them by type, wet and cool them, and sort them into boxes. They throw the scraps into the sea, on which flocks of seagulls flying behind the boat pounce.

Swaying, the sailors drink coffee. Then, with pulleys and winches, they pull up large nets from which a pile of different fish and waste spills onto the hull. The entire operation is closely followed by a dolphin darting around the hull. Meanwhile, the weather is changing. The operator gets in touch with Mazara. The sea has become rough. Waves sweep the boat. The helmsman scans the sea. Finally, calm seems to return with the rainbow. The fishing boat enters the port, greeted by other boats. The engine is turned off. The cabin boy brings the mess tins and then the meal that the men eat sitting on the ground. With sea water, immediately afterwards the cabin boy washes the bowls. They work on the nets, they put them out to dry. Seagulls fly among the clouds. In the hold, the fishermen play cards, they sleep in the bunks. But soon the animation on board begins again. In the engine room, the engines are turned on again. By the light of a lantern, the men raise the anchor, arrange the nets. They set off again for another day of work.