Sicily on Screen: Essays on the Representation of the Island and Its Culture

With all its diverse physical beauty and intriguing "kaleidoscopic" cultural background, Sicily has been a source of inspiration for innumerable filmmakers spanning all genres, nationalities, and epochs. In this volume, twelve essays by international scholars--and additional writing from directors Roberta Torre, Giovanna Taviani, and Costanza Quatriglio--seek to offset the near-absence of scholarship focusing on the relationship between the Mediterranean gem and cinema. Touching on class relations, immigration, gender, and poverty, these essays examine how Sicily is depicted in fiction, satire, and documentaries, discussing how the island and its inhabitants are othered by both national and international directors. Uniquely situated on the borders between North and South, East and West, innovation and tradition, authenticity and displacement, Sicily acts as a microcosm of the world, a place to explore unique local and national narratives, and a narrative tool for intercultural dialogue. It is also the center of impactful cinematographic discussions and events such as the Taormina Film Festival and the SalinaDocFest. Finally, this volume presents Sicily as a character and creator in its own right, both the true protagonist of many films and a strong creative force behind them.