Stories of people of Langa

by Paolo Ghiga

Maria Teresa encountered father's winery produces wines from renowned Barolo and Nebbiolo respecting rigorously the tradition, but, in his heart, after a degree in foreign languages and literatures believed he could live by another; Silvio, abandon his profession, a well-paid, Tiler to produce traditional cheeses in a little village in the Hill, where he moved his family and 50 sheep and finally Mauro, a former tram depot of the big distribution after dismissal decides to produce and sell handmade artisan pasta. There are three stories of life in precarious balance between "normal" and "extremism", independent of one another but United in telling a common territoriality, the Langhe, universally recognized beauty scenery.
The characters just described are the protagonists of a film initiative which, although not built on environmental bases or close militancy, manages to express concepts and invites the Viewer to reflect on the endemic problems of our society.

The author of this intriguing prospect is Paolo Casalis, an architect of Bra, director of the documentary Langhe Doc – stories of heretics in the Italy of sheds. As told us, Paolo doesn't mind, neither theoretically, or actively, environmentalism, not political or associations of any kind. In this documentary, which, remember, not everyone is a universe to 360 °, but a very personal story about his Langhe, the Director invites reflection by telling us the story of Maria Teresa, Silvio and Mauro, different in their life experiences but United by the desire, by necessity, even spiritual, to change their perspective to embark on a new path.

The goal of Casalis «not give an overview of the issues and values of a territory, but rather tell stories and raise doubts in the spectator, of applications. For this reason I chose to tell three stories in the film "extreme", stories of heretics, (heretics as he defined the journalist Federico Ferrero, ndr) of those who think and act differently. I don't care that their stories are fully carried out, or can give full answers to General questions».

The intertwining of choices and the difficulties of every rebirth is part of the environmental dimension, the light that comes from showing this splendid corner of the Earth under a different lens. This landscape, with the usual clarity and directness, the writer Giorgio Bocca, voice started to documentary, photographer: «In the short space of my long life the Italy has changed into a frightening manner. It is a fight against time, you should be able to become civilians before the disaster is complete. You should see if we still have time to save this landscape. I mostly have already destroyed ...». Own Langhe co-existence between man and nature has reached the highest summits: a land seemingly harsh, severe has granted to man to obtain wine delicacies; its vineyards are geometric perfections of an area that attract tourists throughout the year, and this is recent history, some portions of its territory are candidates to become "Unesco".

This nomination, says Casalis, «today, is a very "nebulous": it could be a great opportunity, or simply a quality label to apply to the territory». «Today - as Maria Teresa Mascarello says in the movie - are candidates for world heritage site but the cement does not stop, and even has stopped to plant vines» radical economic transformation processes and landscape, urbanization, the progressive abandonment of rural areas and certain traditional crafts, as well as the cementation, threaten to transform a large part of the Langa territories in what, in the documentary, Giorgio Bocca defines as "Italy premises”.

Built through an impeccable montage and a photograph, a motion picture research and attention are not common, "Langhe Doc" is a story to see, taste, slowly, like a glass of wine or a Maria Theresa Silvio cheese or even a handmade pasta by Mauro. The flavour of a land that goes through the work of its people.